CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 7

I ssues and P eople For PLWHAs who are not receiving medical treatment and drug therapies, or those with uncontrolled HIV-infection, the risk of opportunistic infections, like oral lesions from immunosuppression, poses a health risk. In many cases, dentists are the first health care provider to identify an oral manifestation of HIV, even in patients who are not known to be HIV positive. Further, 90% of people living with HIV will develop at least one oral condition. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “prevention is important for HIV-positive patients who are more susceptible to oral disease. Dentists should continuously monitor dental and oral health for disease progression. If any oral manifestations of HIV are present, the first priority is to relieve pain and treat infections.” 2 To help dentists deliver compassionate and effective oral health care to PLWHAs, the ADA has created a resource 2 about HIV/AIDS and treating patients who are HIV-positive. With this resource, dentists can learn more about: • the HIV virus • diagnostic testing • infection control • dental care • dental patient manage ment. The Alberta Dental Association and College has also created the Guidelines for Excellence in Service Provision for People Living with HIV resource 3 (adapted from the General Dental Council Standards for Dental Professionals) to support dentists and their teams in creating safe, stigma-free spaces for HIV positive patients. a References 1. Jessani A, Brondani MA. Availability of medical and oral health services for people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada. J Can Dent Assoc 2019;85:j1. 2. American Dental Association. Oral Health Topics: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) . Available: ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/hiv 3. Alberta Dental Association & College. Breaking Barriers: HIV/AIDS and the Dental Patient. Available: cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dentistry/HIVandDentalCare.pdf ➜ 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. For more details, visit oasisdiscussions.ca/ 2019/08/20/27522 and jcda.ca/j1