The Tulsa Health Department, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry just announced why they are investigating a Tulsa County dentist.

KRMG has learned that a patient of Dr. Scott Harrington may have contracted Hepatitis C during a visit to the dentist in March of last year.

The Health Department identifies the dentist as Dr. Scott Harrington and says it is notifying his patients that they need to be tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.

It estimates the possible exposure could involve as many as 7,000 patients, dating back to 2007.

The State Board of Dentistry says the investigation of the practice of W. Scott Harrington D.M.D. so far has found numerous violations of health and safety laws and major violations of the State Dental Act.

They include allowing dental assistants to perform IV sedation as well as using tools that weren't properly sterilized.

The dentist and the dental office voluntarily discontinued practicing upon the beginning of the investigation in March, 2012.

Health officials tell KRMG that Harrington is cooperating with investigators through his attorney.

Patients who had procedures at Dr. Harrington’s dental practice, located at 2111 S. Atlanta Place in Tulsa or at 12806 E. 86th Place N. in Owasso, Oklahoma, will begin to receive letters in the mail.

The notifications only include patients who have visited Dr. Harrington since 2007.

Patients who were seen by Dr. Harrington prior to 2007 may not receive a letter since information was only available from the past seven years.

That letter recommends they be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

KRMG is told that infected patients may not have outward symptoms of the disease for many years.

As a precaution and in order to take appropriate steps to protect their health, it is important for these patients to get tested.

All testing will be done free of charge at the Tulsa Health Department’s North Regional Health and Wellness Center located at 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Services will be provided on a walk-in basis starting on Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and will resume on Monday, April 1, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

In addition, the Health Department has set up a hotline at (918) 595-4500 for people with questions about this notification or hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV.