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Commission rejects proposed consent order in unlicensed practice case, asks DPH to pursue stronger action
Summary
The commission declined to accept a proposed consent order in a case alleging unlicensed dental practice by Ardida Topali, asked the prosecutor to seek a stiffer civil penalty and voted to forward concerns to the department’s licensure investigators and the appropriate hygiene oversight body.
Attorney Linda Fazina presented a petition alleging unlicensed practice by Ardida Topali from approximately 2020 to June 2024 and said the respondent "owned or operated an office or consultation room in which dental medicine or dental hygiene is carried on without having a license to practice dentistry" in violation of Connecticut General Statute section 20‑122. The proposed consent order included cease‑and‑desist terms and a $5,000 civil penalty; Fazina said the respondent reported closing the business and agreed to the proposed penalty.
Several commissioners said the proposed civil penalty was insufficient given the allegations and concerns that the respondent was using a dental hygiene license to perform or enable dental services outside the hygiene scope. Commissioner Deb asked whether the hygiene license was separately under review; attorneys and staff explained the department’s investigative group handles dental and hygiene matters and that additional referral to the professional licensure investigation section was possible.
After discussion the commission voted not to accept the proposed consent order. Commissioners asked the prosecutor to rework the agreement with a higher civil penalty (commissioners suggested up to the statutory maximum of $10,000) and directed staff to forward the commission’s concern about misuse of the hygiene license to the Professional Licensure Investigation Section at the Department of Public Health for any further action. Ryan said he will pass the commission’s minutes and a request for review to the department.
