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And while there was no evidence of any public promotion of the dental services, even through online advertising, investigators suspect it was mostly family and friends treated by Prokhin at the home.

Investigators at the inspection said Prokhin did not provide a list of patients, and did not answer all of their questions in a forthright manner, MacDonald added.

It is not clear whether extractions or other major procedures requiring drugs and freezing were occurring on site, MacDonald added, although there was some evidence that cleaning and fillings were being performed.

Prokhin, which is a name of Eastern European or Russian descent, is not from Canada.

MacDonald could not say whether she is licensed to practise dentistry in other parts of the world.

Neighbours of the two-storey Somerset home said they did not know Prokhin or that there was a dental office operating out of a home on their street.

No one at the home answered the door, which has a sign posted saying “Alberta Health Services has ordered this community health-care facility closed.” But with wicker furniture and snow shovels leaning up against the porch, it appeared someone was still living there.

“My biggest concern as a public health officer is to ensure that anyone who accessed services here be tested,” MacDonald stressed.

“To prevent the spread of infection from one person to another, equipment used in dental procedures must be cleaned, disinfected and sterilized according to health standards.