HIV infection and dental care: views and experiences among HIV-seropositive patients

This study reports the views and experiences of HIV-seropositive individuals within the Danish Dental Care System. One hundred and thirty-five consecutive HIV-seropositive outpatients visiting the infectious departments at three Danish hospitals completed a structured questionnaire anonymously; participation rate was 96%. Refusal of dental treatment due to HIV-seropositivity had been experienced by 10.4% of the sample (95% CI: 7.1-20.3%), although more (24.4%) knew someone who had been rejected at a dental clinic. Rejection was seen more often among those who had informed a dentist of HIV-seropositivity than among those who had not; 17.8% compared to 3% (P = 0.06). Only 25.4% (18.3-33.6%) favoured the idea of special dental units for referral for routine treatment. Negative attitudes and behaviour against HIV-infected people were characterized as discriminatory by 83.5% (76.0-89.3%). Most of the participants seemed to have established an open and confident relationship with their attending dentist with regard to their HIV-seropositivity and to a lesser extent, their sexuality. When patients told their dentists about their HIV-seropositivity, this was clearly reflected in increased infection control.