That’s not going to happen in a Cavitron spray,” Bednarsh said. “And to withhold a standard of care from somebody based on their HIV status is not only unethical and poor practice, it’s also illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Additionally, certain oral manifestations once were believed only to occur in patients with HIV, but that is not the case. Patients with HIV present oral manifestations that are similar to those found in patients without HIV. Periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and other infections don’t present any extra risk to HIV-positive patients, either. Also, the presence or absence of HIV does not play any role in wound healing, which is affected by other factors besides HIV. “We used to see more specific types of periodontal involvement or inflammation in HIV-positive patients, such as a red banding,” she said. “But we see a lot less of that now. And we see run of the mill periodontal disease. There are better drugs out now than there were.” Dentists should remain concerned, though. HIV patients often are on medications that may affect care, and dentists need to know about them—just as they would need to know about any patient’s chronic condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure dental supplies. HIV status should be disclosed during the intake of the patient’s medical history. “It would be the same thing,” Bednarsh said. “‘What meds are you on? How long have you been on them? Have they been working? Do you have any side effects? Do you have any oral side effects like dry mouth or decreased salivary flow? Can I talk to your physician?’ We have to look at a chronic disease model.” In fact, Bednarsh advocates a systemic approach that makes dental care part of an overall approach to healthcare. One model already integrates medical care and dental care for the HIV population, and she believes it could be expanded to other serious diseases. Education is key for doctors and patients alike, she says, and resources are available Dental Chair. For example, there are 11 regional and 4 national AIDS education training centers funded by the federal Health Resources Service Administration. These facilities provide education and clinical training opportunities for healthcare providers in counseling, diagnosis, treatment, and care management of patients with HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention advocates for safe and infection-free delivery or oral health, with strategies and education for compliance with safe practices. And online, professionals can check out hivdent.org for information about HIV oral healthcare, advocacy, training, and evaluation of services for the HIV population. “There’s still a lot of stigma and discrimination out there. A lot of fear of disclosure. A lot of myths to dispel,” Bednarsh said. “But we have a much more educated profession, and I think that most of the profession now views HIV as a chronic disease.” dental lab supplies australia