A dentist in Colorado was suspended after the state found many infection control failures, including improper sterilization practices, as well as performing medical spa treatments that fall outside the scope of his license, according to the state dental board.
The Colorado Dental Board suspended Dr. Scott Hirsbrunner of White Diamond Dental in Monument, CO, pending proceedings to determine whether he will face additional discipline.
Hirsbrunner also owns and operates Beody Wellness Medspa, where he served as medical director. The spa is adjacent to the dental practice, according to a board order dated September 11.
Hirsbrunner had to stop any dental work immediately, and he is barred from employing a dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant while suspended, according to the order.
Hirsbrunner's suspension resulted from a former patient’s complaint, as well as an unannounced inspection by state regulators, according to the order.
The inspection revealed the following deficiencies related to infection control:
- Failure to conduct spore testing for instrument sterilization and no written policy for spore test failures
- Improper instrument sterilization practices
- Failure to test dental waterlines
- Failure to provide annual training to employees on U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines
- No infectious waste contract
- No record of tuberculosis testing for employees
- No written bloodborne pathogens exposure plan for the office and no referral clinic established
- Failure to use antibiotic hand soap
- Failure to use sterile gloves
Additionally, the board determined that Hirsbrunner reportedly failed to take x-rays before extracting a patient’s wisdom teeth and performed scaling and root planing that wasn’t justified on the day of a surgical extraction, according to the order.
At the med spa, Hirsbrunner performed laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, and intense pulsed-light photofacials. The board found that those services, as well as being the spa's medical director, fell outside the scope of his dental license.
A formal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
