He describes himself as a man of the highest moral standards – friends with his patients and a mentor to his staff.

But many of the more than 40,000 Sydney residents who have walked through the doors of his Gentle Dentist practices in Campsie and Sussex Street in the city are now faced with the fear they may have been infected with HIV or hepatitis because of poor infection controls. NSW Health says the risk of infection is small, but is contacting customers regardless.

Samson Chan was born in China, but moved to Australia in 1978, where he attended James Cook Boys High for his senior years. He gained what his website describes as "a remarkable 98% [HSC] score which made him part of the top 2% of NSW".

His business has been active in advertising to the local Chinese-Australian community, recently sponsoring the Miss Australia Chinese Beauty Pageant and producing Chinese-language advertisements.

He paints a picture of himself as an all-rounder, with a Chinese upbringing that taught him the value of "honesty, kindness, loyalty, righteousness, sincerity, unselfishness and respect to others", who regularly attends training as well as teaching and mentoring his staff.

"Dr Chan is regarded as one of the most diligent, meticulous and contemporary dentist [sic]" his website says. "Dr Chan is also a good listener, which has enabled him to become friends with many patients."

He is also involved with a hair salon, called The Neo Studios, which is "part of the Gentle Dentist family". During his down time, he has many different hobbies, including "scuba diving, fishing, dancing, singing karaoke and socialising with friends".

However, since Fairfax Media broke the story last night that health authorities were concerned more than 11,000 patients who had more invasive procedures at his clinics could be at risk HIV and hepatitis, the image he has created for himself has begun to shatter. He has been suspended from practising, along with four of his staff.

Already, his videos have been removed from his YouTube channel, and a number of posts taken down from Facebook, while fearful patients have flooded the page with complaints.

"After having major dental surgery at this clinic, I'm shocked, horrified and panicking over the risks of Hepatitis and HIV," wrote one patient. "I have done my blood tests today and I'd suggest you all to do the same."

Dr Chan, who declined to comment when Fairfax Media contacted him on Wednesday, and could not be reached on Thursday, offers two pearls of wisdom to those who visit his website, with variable usefulness for his own troubled time: "Try to be happy no matter what happens" and "Let the dentist check you and your children's teeth regularly".