The Doctors Association Kashmir has experessed serious concern about the unhygienic practices followed at many private and government-run dental clinics, citing them as responsible for spreading serious infections like hepatitis and HIV.

Expressing concern over unhygienic dental practices in the valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on 14 March said this is responsible for high rates of hepatitis infection in Kashmir. “Both government and private dental clinics are not following guidelines on infection-control putting patients at risk of serious infections like hepatitis and HIV,” DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said.

“You go to a dentist to fix your teeth or gum problems, you are at risk of contracting these deadly infections due to breach in infection-control standards,” he said. The DAK President said most of the dental clinics use unsterilized or improperly sterilized instruments endangering the safety of patients. “The tools are not cleaned in between patients. The disposable items which are for single-use are reused on patients. Unsterile needles are used in multiple dose medication vials,” he said.

He said dentists do not change gloves in between patients and use same gloves for every patient that leads to cross-infection. “Patients are not screened for hepatitis and HIV prior to intervention resulting in transfer of these viruses from one patient to another,” he added. Dr Hassan said there is epidemic of hepatitis infection due to unsanitary dental conditions in the valley.  “According to a study published in 2017, screening of 2000 patients who attended Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar revealed prevalence of 12 per cent for hepatitis B and C infection respectively,” he said.

“Thirty eight per cent population of two twin villages of Takia-Magam and Sonbarie in Kokernag area were found to be infected with Hepatitis C infection,” Dr Hassan quoted another study adding that during a screening in 2015, 84 persons were found positive for hepatitis B virus in village Diver of Lolab area.“There are around 459 cases of HIV infection registered in SKIMS hospital,” he informed. “Hepatitis B, C and HIV infections are serious medical conditions and infected patients may not have outward symptoms of the disease for many years,” said Dr Hassan.