Dental Clinic Ordered To Halt Water Use After Reports Of Infections
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com/AP) — Health officials have ordered an Anaheim dental clinic to stop using water for procedures after 10 children who underwent root canals were hospitalized with serious infections.
The Orange County Health Care Agency said Thursday that samples from the Children's Dental Clinic water system have tested positive for mycobacteria. The samples are similar to the kind believed to have infected the children, who all underwent pulpotomies starting in May.
KCAL9's Michelle Gile first reported on the infections after parents of several children came forward to say their children were sick.
Doctors believe as many as 500 children may have been exposed to the infectious bacteria.
The children all underwent a procedure similar to a root canal at Children's Dental Group in Anaheim between May and September, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.
RELATED LINK: Children's Dental Group Offers Statement About Recent Link To Infections
Last week, Children's Dental stopped doing the procedure in question, according to Gile.
The Orange County Register reports the clinic must replace the existing on-site water system and all equipment that could be a source of mycobacteria.
Officials are asking any clients of Medi-Cal who believe the dentists did excessive or unnecessary treatments to file a complaint with the Dental Board and with the Medi-Cal Fraud Unit.
To report Medi-Cal fraud, click here or call their hotline: (800) 722-0432. You can also access their online complaint form.
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