The HIV-Infected Patient or their Dentist

Oral health is an integral component of primary health care, most notably for people living with HIV infection or AIDS. As stated in the Surgeon General of the United States report Oral Health in America, one cannot be healthy without oral health. This presentation will offer information on the important role of the oral health care team in regards to the clinical management of HIV-infected patients. Topics to be covered will include the following: proper dental management for people living with HIV disease; understanding pertinent lab data for the provision of dental care such as CD4 count, HIV viral load, platelet count and absolute neutrophil count; infection control concerns; and information regarding oral diseases seen in association with HIV infection.

Recognition of the oral manifestations of HIV infection is an important tool in accessing a patient’s overall well-being as they are important indicators of disease progression for those known to be HIV positive and may provide a means of accessing the potential status of those at risk for HIV infection. This presentation will enable the participants to accurately diagnose and manage the most common oral opportunistic infections seen in association with HIV disease. Proper recognition and management of the oral diseases seen in association with HIV infection can reduce morbidity and improve the overall quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.