A top north-east dentist has been found guilty of a catalogue of failing – but cleared of misconduct.
A disciplinary panel also ruled that Christopher Reeks, who has helped train the next generation of dentists, could continue to practice.
Mr Reeks – who delivers specialist lectures at Aberdeen Dental School in his role as a clinical teaching fellow – had faced nine charges, involving 13 patients and allegations he breached a string of hygiene rules.
The charges against him related to his time at Banchory Dental Practice, over a four-year period from 2007 to 2013.
Mr Reeks, from Westhill, gave evidence before a General Dental Council (GDC) professional performance committee in London.
He admitted that, during his time at the Station Road surgery, he had failed on a number of occasions to follow correct cross-infection control procedures.
This included, on occasion, opening drawers or cupboards, using the computer in the treatment room, and getting equipment from outside the room while wearing contaminated gloves.
Mr Reeks also accepted he did not change his gloves before returning to his patients after carrying out such tasks.
However, he denied an accusation that he had failed to change his surgical gloves between patients when treating members of the same family at consecutive appointments – a charge which was found to be not proven by the panel.
Mr Reeks, who no longer works at the practice, also admitted a string of procedural charges relating to the treatment of his patients.
However, the committee, which heard evidence from three of his former colleagues as well as an expert witness, ruled they did not amount to professional misconduct.
The committee also determined that his fitness to practice was not impaired as a result of the failings.
In a statement, the committee told Mr Reeks: “In considering the issue of misconduct, the committee considered that, while it found you made a series of clinical failings which included failings in fundamental tenets in dentistry, these failings were not reckless or careless.
“Generally they amounted to failings in the exercise of your professional judgment.”
Last night, a woman who answered the door at Mr Reeks’s home said he did not want to comment on the committee’s decision.