Hundreds of Sydney dental patients urged to undergo blood tests for Hepatitis and HIV

Hundreds of people south of Sydney are being urged to take blood tests for Hepatitis because of a breach of health standards at a dentist.

New South Wales Health has contacted 930 patients of Cronulla dentist Dr Nicholas Southall, telling them they should be tested for Hepatitis B, C and HIV.

Those contacted are patients who had invasive procedures where bleeding may have occurred over the past 14 years.

NSW Health says there's a risk of patients transmitting blood-borne viruses.

"There is a theoretical risk of transmission of blood borne viruses the hepatitis, HIV but we think the actual risk to individuals is very low,” patient Edie Hallworth said.

On the surgery's website, it says Dr Southall has been operating as a dentist for 32 years but has failed to renew his registration and can't practice in Australia.

The surgery was closed on Wednesday but plans to re-open in February.

So far there have been no reports of patients from the clinic having an infection.

Any concerned patients are encouraged to visit their GP.