Trending Now - Patients of Rittenhouse Square Dentist Advised to Test for HIV, Hepatitis

WHO:

Inquirer.com - The dentist involved is Kirti Chopra.

CBS News - The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is the health authority involved.

WHAT:

Inquirer.com - Patients of Smiles at Rittenhouse Square are advised to get tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV.

CBS News - The clinic has been shut down due to the suspension of the dentist's license for unsanitary conditions.

Inquirer.com - The health department is working to obtain a list of patients who visited the clinic between April 2025 and May 2026.

CBS News - There are no known infections connected to the practice, and the health department believes the risk is low.

WHERE:

Inquirer.com - The clinic is located at 255 South 17th Street Suite 2507, Philadelphia.

WHEN:

Inquirer.com - The Pennsylvania Department of State temporarily suspended Chopra’s license on May 15, 2026.

CBS News - The health department is contacting patients who visited the clinic between April 2025 and May 2026.

WHY:

Inquirer.com - The license was suspended due to unsanitary practices, including reusing single-use medical supplies.

CBS News - The clinic was cited for failing to follow sterilization and sanitation procedures.

HOW:

Inquirer.com - Inspectors found that the clinic was reusing saline bags and vials of septocaine, which should have been discarded after single use.

CBS News - The health department plans to send a letter to patients with information on testing locations and recommendations.

(UPDATED May 21, 2026 01:42 UTC)

Patients of Smiles at Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia are being urged to get tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV after the clinic was shut down due to unsanitary practices by dentist Kirti Chopra, whose license was suspended on May 15, 2026. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is working to contact patients who visited the clinic between April 2025 and May 2026, although there are currently no known infections linked to the practice and the risk is considered low. Inspectors discovered that the clinic reused single-use medical supplies, including saline bags and vials of septocaine, prompting the health department to send letters to patients with information on testing locations and recommendations.