HIV and the mouth

January 2007     View PDF     En español

Commentary

A February 1999 study revealed an overall decline in the rate of the most common oral lesions in people living with HIV. But it also showed an increase in the number of cases of oral warts and linked this increase to protease inhibitor use. Another study showed that people using anti-HIV therapy and optimal prevention for infections were less likely to get candidiasis in their throats. This suggests that stopping HIV from destroying the immune system can help the body to control this fungal infection.

Planning a course of action for dental care and treatment is important for people living with HIV. Your dentist is a partner in helping you develop this plan, there to provide you with information about your options, potential risks and benefits, and recommendations. Optimally, any course of treatment should be made together—with you, your doctor and your dentist working together.

Other recommended resources include www.HIVdent.org, a non-profit website dedicated to assuring high quality oral health services for people living with HIV. HIVdent.org has a collection of easy-to-read materials on a variety of oral health and general HIV topics. The National Institute of Dental Research (www.nidcr.nih.gov) has information on studies and links to information on potential sites that deliver dental care.

Special thanks goes to Dr. David Rosenstein, DMD, MPH of the Department of Community Dentistry in Portland, Oregon for his editorial support and review of these materials.