[Dental care of HIV carriers]

As HIV infections continue to spread worldwide, the number of patients with known or unknown HIV positivity seen in dental practice is increasing. Some of the infected individuals need more frequent dental care than the general population, because HIV infections tend to be associated with specific oral manifestations. HIV-positive individuals have special psychosocial problems attributable both to their disease and to their frequent association with socially discriminated groups. These problems are also reflected in the dentist-patient relationships. Dental care of known HIV-positive individuals is much less hazardous than the treatment of undiagnosed HIV carriers. Building confidence between the dentist and the patient is essential. As HIV transmission is similar to that of hepatitis B, the full battery of hygienic precautions established for preventing hepatitis B should be observed in dental work to prevent HIV infections. Conditions of work in dental offices should meet the hygienic standards needed to preclude the risk of infections both for the dentists and their patients.