HIV and Dental Treatment

Approximately 1.1 million people are living with HIV, but 17 to 25 percent of these infected individuals are unaware of their disease status and as a result are not getting appropriate medical treatment. Many of those who are untreated need dental care for caries, periodontal disease, and other oral pathologies. Although HIV positive individuals undergoing medical treatment pose a significantly reduced risk for disease transmission, given the numbers of untreated HIV infected, providers of dental care must continue to be vigilant with respect to their preventative infection control measures. This article presents information on the epidemiology of HIV-infected patients and practical clinical considerations that need to be utilized when treating the AIDS patient.