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Patients of Safuan Hasic (also known as Steven Hasic), who previously worked as a dental practitioner based in Mortdale, are being urged to get tested for blood borne viruses as a precautionary measure after the Chief Health Officer issued a public health warning about infection control breaches identified at the practice.
Mr Hasic was a dental practitioner before being suspended by the Dental Council of NSW in September 2025. However, since 2022 the Dental Council has imposed conditions on his registration restricting his ability to treat patients.
A recent audit of Mr Hasic’s premises at 70 Victoria Avenue, Mortdale, NSW 2223 by the Dental Council of NSW identified potential infection breaches and raised concerns that he was practising in breach of his registration conditions. This resulted in the Chief Health Officer issuing a public warning and NSW Health issuing a closure order for the dental surgery at 70 Victoria Avenue Mortdale.
The evidence of poor cleaning and inadequate sterilisation of dental equipment means dental work performed at the practice may have posed a low risk of exposure to blood borne viruses.
A blood borne virus could have spread from one patient to another on dental instruments. Blood borne viruses include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Poor infection control could also cause other types of infections from bacteria or viruses. These other infections cause acute symptoms and generally don’t lead to long-term problems, and testing is not needed for these other infections if you don’t have symptoms.
Any patient who has had dental work done by Mr Hasic may be at risk of blood borne viruses. The risk is higher where a needle or other dental instrument broke the skin, gums, or tooth root, or where there was bleeding. However, even in these cases the infection risk is still low.
All patients of Mr Hasic are recommended to see their GP for precautionary testing for blood borne viruses. These are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.
Blood borne viruses may not cause any signs or symptoms for years but can be easily detected on a blood test.
Bacterial and other viral infections usually show signs like pain or swelling in the mouth within a few days to weeks. No testing is required for bacterial or other viral infections if you have no symptoms.
Mr Hasic has been doing dental work at 70 Victoria Avenue Mortdale since the 1980s. As there is no certainty about how his infection control practices have differed over time, we suggest that anyone who had dental treatment there at any time should have a test for blood borne viruses.
If you have had tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV after your last visit with Mr Hasic, you should still check with their GP if more tests are required, even if results were negative.
As the risk is low you do not need to tell anyone or take any new precautions. We do recommend that you speak with your GP as soon as possible and they can arrange testing and provide advice specific to your situation.
A positive result means that you have been infected with a blood borne virus at some point in the past. A positive result could be caused by the dental work at 70 Victoria Avenue Mortdale, however people can be infected with a blood borne virus in other ways (such as through unprotected sex with a partner who has a blood borne virus).
If you have a positive test your GP will arrange for additional tests and treatment, if needed.
Further information on blood borne viruses is available NSW Health infectious diseases fact sheets on hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Fact sheets in other languages are available from the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service.
If you have any other questions about blood borne viruses, speak with your GP or contact your local public health unit on 1300 066 055.
If you have any concerns regarding dental treatment provided by Mr Hasic, you can make a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission or to the Dental Council of NSW.
For anyone distressed by this news and needs mental health support, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by trained mental health professionals who offer mental health advice, and referrals to local mental health services.
Support for people who live in NSW and who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities is also available via the Transcultural Mental Health Line on 1800 648 911.
For free health advice anytime day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Need support in your language? You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for healthdirect.
More information on mental health services and support can be found on the NSW Health website at Mental health - Services and programs.
