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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission in Dentistry

¹ Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK; and
² University of California, San Francisco, USA

^* corresponding author, c.scully{at}eastman.ucl.ac.uk

HIV transmission in the health-care setting is of concern. To assess the current position in dentistry, we have reviewed the evidence to November 1, 2005. Transmission is evidently rare in the industrialized nations and can be significantly reduced or prevented by the use of standard infection control measures, appropriate clinical and instrument-handling procedures, and the use of safety equipment and safety needles. We hope that breaches in standard infection control will become vanishingly small. When occupational exposure to HIV is suspected, the application of post-exposure protocols for investigating the incident and protecting those involved from possible HIV infection further reduces the likelihood of HIV disease, and also stress and anxiety.

KEY WORDS: HIV • AIDS • mouth • dental • transmission • occupational