Buzz Nabers dental patients urged to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C

Brenna McDermott | Knoxville News Sentinel

Show Caption Hide Caption Knoxville dentist hit with $11K in fines Knoxville dentist Clarence "Buzz" Nabers had dental hygienists and dental assistants perform duties beyond their professional scope according to a July state health professions board disciplinary action report.

Patients who were treated at offices run by dentist Buzz Nabers in the past three years should be tested for serious illnesses, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The Tennessee Department of Health issued the recommendation after finding earlier this year that the Knoxville dentist did not ensure dental equipment was properly sterilized.

Nabers, whose legal first name is Clarence, was fined $11,000 and his license was put on probation.

The recommendation from the Tennessee Department of Health was included in a letter sent to patients from Nabers, who operates offices at 304 S. Gay St. and 2061 Thunderhead Road.

The letter, which is printed on plain paper without letterhead and does not name the dental practice, says "there have been no reports of any harm to patients. We have no reason to believe any harm has occurred."

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Shelley Walker, Department of Health spokesperson, said the state required Nabers to send a letter to every patient seen within the three-year time frame. The notice was approved by state health officials.

Nabers, in an emailed statement to Knox News, said he voluntarily sent the letters. He said he expects all letters be sent by the end of this week.

"Although my attorneys did not believe the facts, or the law, required individual notices, I chose to do so to eliminate any risk to each and every one of my patients. I mean it when I say patient safety is our priority," Nabers said in the statement.

Who needs to get tested?

The Tennessee Department of Health recommends patients who had received dentistry services from Nabers' practice between Sept. 15, 2016, and Sept. 15, 2019, be tested for the three blood-borne viruses.

"A question was raised regarding sterilization techniques," according to the letter to patients. "When brought to our attention, these processes were revised and corrected."

On the Department of Health's recommendation and in "an abundance of caution," the letter advises patients of the "very remote" possibility that they had been exposed to infection.

How to get tested

The letter encourages patients to undergo testing by their primary care provider and included a copy of the recommended tests along with their diagnostic codes.

Patients without a primary care physician can be tested at the Knox County Health Department, the letter says. To make an appointment, patients should call 865-215-5371. Testing will be conducted at 140 Dameron Ave., and results should take 10 to 14 days.

Nabers mentioned the letter briefly in a video posted on the "Dr. Buzz Nabers, DDS" Facebook page.

"I want to take the time to let our loyal patients know that they may be receiving a letter in the near future. The topics in this letter have been dealt with, but what we're encouraging is if people have questions, then to call the office, so they can get all the information they need and so we can move on at the end of our year," Nabers says in the video.

Nabers fined for sterilization violations

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Although Nabers' office was cited for improper sterilization practices from July 2018 to October 2018, Walker said Department of Health medical experts determined the three-year period to be a reasonable time frame to recommending testing.

The state found that during that time Nabers' practice was taking disposable drill pieces, placing them in cold sterile solution and reusing them.

Dental tools and "air water" syringes were not properly sanitized between patients, instead only wiped with a sanitizing cloth. Leather dental chairs were not sanitized between patients.

In addition, the practice's sterilization machines were not tested to ensure they were, indeed, sterilizing.

The state also found Nabers allowed dental assistants to practice outside their scope by administering fillings, placing permanent crowns and inserting dental bridges. He also was cited for forging certification documents.

Nabers told Knox News in August that he had implemented protocols to correct the issues.