Philly dental office reopens 2 months after HIV, hepatitis alert

Key Points:

• Dr. Kirti Chopra, a Philadelphia dentist whose license was suspended in May 2026 due to infection control concerns, is set to reopen her practice on July 23 after agreeing to pay a $14,000 fine and undergo probation and oversight.
• The suspension followed an investigation revealing improper handling of instruments and reuse of single-use medications, which posed a risk for transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, prompting a public health alert urging patients to get tested.
• The investigation and suspension process took approximately seven weeks, during which Chopra continued seeing patients, raising concerns about the delay in regulatory action and the potential risk to patients.
• State officials explained that disciplinary actions require thorough investigations and evidence of immediate danger, while the city had authority to close the office but chose not to, initially deeming the situation low-risk.
• Dr. Chopra has implemented new infection-control protocols and additional staff training, with no known cases of disease transmission linked to her practice, though experts emphasize that any risk of infection from dental procedures is unacceptable.