CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 7

31 Issue 7 | 2019 | I ssues and P eople An environmental scan 1 published in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (JCDA.ca ) evaluated the availability of oral health care services for people living with HIV (PLWHA) in British Columbia. Despite improvements in managing biomedical complications associated with HIV, the scan found that many PLWHAs are not seeking out much-needed dental care because of stigma and costs. Further, PLWHAs facing unstable housing, problematic drug use, and food insecurity were also less likely to seek out dental and medical care. Survey respondents indicated that discrimination, social determinants of health, and lack of insurance were among the top barriers to accessing oral health care. The scan showed that: • 62% were experiencing difficulties with housing, transportation, and food • 66% experienced dental anxiety • 50% did not have dental insurance • 46% experienced discrimination by dental professionals. What’s more, three-quarters of those surveyed reported having bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity and tooth decay. Significant numbers of respondents also reported they had unmet dental treatment needs and felt discriminated against by dental care providers. Undetectable = Untransmittable: What dentists need to know In December 2018, Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, officially endorsed Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). This campaign supports and promotes scientific evidence indicating that there is effectively no risk of sexual transmission when a person is being treated for HIV and maintains a supressed or undetectable viral load. U=U is part of a broader campaign to reduce stigma and affirm treatment as prevention models. Canada was the first government to sign on to this global campaign that will directly improve the lives of people living with HIV by helping to reduce social, economic, and medical barriers while encouraging PLWHAs to access care services. Providing Dental Care to People Living with HIV While drug therapies and education have improved the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, many continue to struggle to access oral health care services, particularly low-income individuals. This signals a need for training of dental care providers to better serve people living with HIV. This is especially the case in remote locations where accessing a dental care provider can be a challenge.