If you received treatment at Smiles at Rittenhouse Square between April 2025 and May 2026, you’re likely feeling scared, confused, and angry — and you have every right to be. Learning that your dentist may have exposed you to HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C through unsafe practices isn’t just shocking. It’s a profound betrayal of the trust you placed in a healthcare provider. You deserve answers about your health, your rights, and what comes next.
This guide explains what happened at the Center City Philadelphia dental clinic, what your legal options may be under Pennsylvania law, and how to protect yourself if you believe you were affected.
What Happened at Smiles at Rittenhouse Square?
On May 20, 2026, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued a public warning urging patients of Smiles at Rittenhouse Square — also known as Smiles on the Square — to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The clinic, located at 255 South 17th Street, Suite 2507, has shut down after the Pennsylvania Department of State temporarily suspended the license of its dentist, Dr. Kirti Chopra, for unsanitary practices.
Investigators with the Commonwealth and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health conducted an unannounced inspection at the clinic on March 25, which ultimately led to the license suspension. According to court documents, the violations were serious. Documents from the state investigation say Chopra admitted to reusing single-use items such as anesthesia vials that put patients at risk of transmission of hepatitis and HIV and outbreaks of viral, bacterial or fungal infections. Documents also show dental handpieces were being reused without being sanitized.
For patients, this isn’t a small infraction. Single-use anesthesia vials and properly sterilized handpieces are basic, non-negotiable standards in dentistry — designed specifically to prevent bloodborne disease transmission. When those protocols are skipped, every patient who walked through the door becomes potentially exposed.
The department is now working with the clinic to get a list of patients who visited between April 2025 and May 2026. Those patients will be contacted via mail about the situation and will be recommended to get tested. There will also be a letter to take to their healthcare provider explaining the situation.
Who Is Affected by the Philadelphia Dental Clinic HIV Exposure Lawsuit?
If you visited Smiles at Rittenhouse Square — or Smiles on the Square — for any procedure between April 2025 and May 2026, you may be at risk. This includes patients who received:
- Routine cleanings
- Fillings or restorative work
- Tooth extractions
- Root canals
- Any procedure involving anesthesia injections
- Any procedure where dental handpieces (drills) were used
Even if you feel fine, you should still be tested. Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV can remain asymptomatic for months or years. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has set up a hotline at 215-685-5488, available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for patients with questions about potential exposure.
While health officials have stated they believe the risk of actual infection is low, that doesn’t minimize what patients have been put through. The fear, the testing, the waiting for results, the disruption to your life — that’s real harm, and Pennsylvania law recognizes it.
Your Legal Rights Under Pennsylvania Dental Malpractice Law
When a dentist exposes patients to potentially life-threatening infections through unsafe practices, that conduct can fall under dental malpractice — a form of medical malpractice. In plain terms, malpractice means a healthcare provider failed to meet the basic standard of care that other dentists in their field would have followed, and that failure caused harm.
In a case like this, the alleged violations — reusing single-use anesthesia vials, failing to sterilize handpieces — are deviations from well-established infection control standards. Patients who were exposed may be entitled to pursue compensation for:
- Medical testing and monitoring costs — including ongoing blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C
- Emotional distress — the anxiety, fear, and psychological impact of potential exposure
- Lost wages — time missed from work for testing, appointments, or treatment
- Additional medical treatment — if testing reveals an infection requiring care
- Pain and suffering — both physical and emotional
You do not have to navigate this alone. Pennsylvania law gives patients real tools to hold negligent providers accountable, and an experienced Philadelphia personal injury and medical malpractice attorney can help you understand whether you have a case.
Why Unsanitary Dental Practices Are a Serious Legal Matter in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds dentists to the same general standard of care as physicians. When that standard is breached — especially in ways the Pennsylvania Department of State has formally identified as “unsanitary practices” — it opens the door to civil claims by affected patients.
The fact that the Pennsylvania Department of State temporarily suspended Dr. Chopra’s license is significant. A state license suspension based on infection control violations is strong evidence that the standard of care was not met. Combined with the documented admissions in the investigation, patients pursuing claims may have substantial regulatory and investigative findings to support their case.
This isn’t just about one dentist or one clinic. It’s about the right of every patient in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania to expect that the people treating them are following basic safety rules. When those rules are broken, the law provides a path forward.
What You Should Do If You Were a Patient at Smiles at Rittenhouse Square
If you believe you may have been exposed, here are the steps to take right now:
- Get tested. Contact your regular healthcare provider and request testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. If you don’t have a provider, call the Philadelphia Department of Public Health hotline at 215-685-5488.
- Save your records. Keep any appointment confirmations, billing statements, text messages, emails, or paperwork from Smiles at Rittenhouse Square. These documents help establish that you were a patient during the affected period.
- Document everything. Write down the dates of your visits, the procedures you had, who treated you, and any symptoms or concerns you’ve experienced since.
- Speak with a Philadelphia dental malpractice attorney. A free consultation costs nothing and helps you understand whether you may have a claim — and what your timeline is.
The sooner you act, the better positioned you’ll be to protect both your health and your legal rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal rights do patients have when a dentist exposes them to HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C through unsafe practices?
Patients have the right to pursue a dental malpractice claim against a dentist whose unsafe practices exposed them to bloodborne illnesses like HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Under Pennsylvania law, this may include compensation for medical testing, emotional distress, lost wages, and any treatment costs. You also have the right to report the dentist to the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
Do I need to test positive for HIV or hepatitis to have a valid lawsuit against a dentist for unsafe practices?
No. You do not need to test positive to pursue a claim. Pennsylvania law recognizes that exposure itself causes real harm — including the cost of testing, the emotional distress of not knowing your status, lost wages from medical appointments, and ongoing monitoring. Each case is unique, so the specific damages available depend on your individual circumstances. An attorney can review your situation in a free consultation.
How long do I have to file a dental malpractice lawsuit in Pennsylvania after discovering potential exposure?
In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the date you knew — or reasonably should have known — about the potential malpractice to file a lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. Under the “discovery rule,” that clock may not start until you became aware of the exposure, which for many Smiles at Rittenhouse Square patients was on or after May 20, 2026. However, time limits in malpractice cases are strict and complicated, so it’s best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Can I file a lawsuit against Smiles at Rittenhouse Square if I was a patient between April 2025 and May 2026?
If you received treatment at Smiles at Rittenhouse Square (also known as Smiles on the Square) between April 2025 and May 2026, you may have grounds to pursue a claim — even if you have not tested positive for an infection. The Pennsylvania Department of State has already suspended Dr. Kirti Chopra’s license based on findings of unsanitary practices, which provides important support for affected patients. A free consultation with a Philadelphia dental malpractice attorney can help you understand your specific options.
You Were a Patient. You Trusted Them. You Deserve Answers.
You went to Smiles at Rittenhouse Square expecting safe, professional care. Instead, you may have been put at risk for a serious, lifelong illness — and you found out about it through a news report or a Facebook post. That isn’t right. And you don’t have to figure out what to do next on your own.
