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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
06:07
Oral Combinational Antiretroviral Treatment in HIV-1 Infected Humanized Mice
Published on: October 6, 2022
HIV infection and tooth loss
Christopher G Engeland1, Paul Jang, Mario Alves
1Department of Periodontics, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection does not increase tooth loss risk in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Age, race, and smoking are key factors in tooth loss, not HIV status or disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Oral health research
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- HIV/AIDS clinical management
Background:
- Tooth loss is a significant concern in public health.
- Previous studies suggested a potential link between HIV infection and increased tooth loss.
- The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has altered the progression and management of HIV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tooth loss.
- To determine if HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals experience greater tooth loss compared to systemically healthy controls.
- To identify risk factors associated with tooth loss in the context of HIV infection during the HAART era.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional chart study design.
- Inclusion of 193 HIV+ patients and 192 matched controls (age, race, gender, smoking status).
- Analysis of tooth loss in relation to age, race, gender, smoking, CD4+ cell count, and viral load over a 2-year follow-up period during the HAART era.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in tooth loss was observed between HIV+ patients and controls at any study point (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 2-year maintenance).
- Age, race, and smoking were identified as significant risk factors for tooth loss.
- Within the HIV+ group, CD4+ cell count and viral load did not demonstrate a significant influence on tooth loss.
Conclusions:
- HIV infection, particularly during the HAART era, is not a significant risk factor for tooth loss.
- No association was found between tooth loss and indicators of HIV disease progression (CD4+ count, viral load).
- Dental health outcomes for HIV+ patients on HAART appear comparable to the general population regarding tooth loss, with traditional risk factors remaining paramount.
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