BBC News - 22,000 dental patients to be tested for 'blood-borne' virus Some 22,000 patients of a Nottinghamshire dentist are to be contacted for tests to see if they have been infected with blood-borne viruses. The dentist, who has not yet been identified, has been suspended, NHS England has confirmed. The dentist treated patients in Nottingham over a 32-year period. It is understood the risk to patients is low.