A Pierce County dentist had his license and general anesthesia permit suspended Monday by a state dental commission. Department of Health records show it isn’t the first time he has faced penalties.
The state’s Dental Quality Assurance Commission alleges the dentist, Walter Foto, was missing emergency drugs in two inspections and had an inadequately trained anesthesia monitor. It also accused him of failing to provide documentation showing that sterilizers for dental tools were tested at least weekly using biological spore testing, according to a news release.
Foto operates in Bonney Lake at the Myers Road Oral Care Center.
A person who answered the phone at the practice Tuesday said the doctor had no comment on the allegations. According to the release, Foto cannot practice in the state until the charges are resolved. He has 20 days to respond to the charges and ask for a hearing, the DOH said.
The last time Foto faced disciplinary action by the board was in 2011 when the commission slapped him with a $10,000 fine and ordered him to complete 29 hours of continuing education, including 22 hours in the area of dental ethics and conduct.