"At work they asked me where my teeth were and one of my colleagues even said I must wear a surgical mask to cover it up," the woman said.

A Cape Town nurse was sent home after she reported to work with no front teeth.

The 52-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said her bosses at the N1 City hospital on Friday said she would not be allowed to return until she replaced her missing front teeth.

She said her dentures were stolen from her bathroom while she was off last week and only realised they were missing the day before she was due to return to work.

"At work they asked me where my teeth were and one of my colleagues even said I must wear a surgical mask to cover it up," the woman said.

"I jokingly put on the mask but I didn't want to make it obvious and have the patients think that I have a disease."

Her manager sent her home at 9am and put her on leave. She was not sure if it was unpaid leave or annual leave.

"I had to get a new set made at the hospital, which cost me R2900 and this also puts a dent in my budget," she told the newspaper.

"I don't know what is going to happen if the new dentures are not done in time because my next shift starts on Friday."

Netcare regional director Ian Goble said the matter was under investigation and that the management members who dealt with the case were currently on leave.