Attitudes of Maryland dentists toward AIDS and hepatitis patients

A survey of dentists practicing in the state of Maryland found differences between general dentists (n = 905), oral surgeons (n = 88), and periodontists (n = 89). Oral surgeons were more willing to treat and had actually treated more AIDS patients. Also, almost twice as many oral surgeons agreed with the American Dental Association opinion that all dentists have a professional responsibility to treat AIDS patients. General dentists and oral surgeons were more willing to permit an AIDS infected dentist to continue to practice than were periodontists. There was more agreement concerning hepatitis patients between all three groups. Also, both specialty groups had been tested for the hepatitis antigen significantly more frequently than had general dentists.