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hiv and oral health

Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) on Oral Lesions

By: Mark Schweizer, DDS MPH
Director of Development and Special Projects
Dental Director Southeastern AIDS Training and Education Center
Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine
[email protected]

    A recent study that was conducted among 1200 HIV patient of whom 600 each belonged to with ART and without ART and the occurrence of oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia. This study shows that oral candidiasis and leukoplakia was less among patients on ART as well as a decrease in the number of opportunistic infections. 1 This is important as oral manifestations might serve as an important marker for monitoring restoration of immune function and ART failure. All healthcare workers should receive education and training on the importance or engaging all HIV patients in oral healthcare and the use of oral lesions as surrogate markers in HIV infection. For Additional Questions or Dental Consultation and Trainings contact Martia West at the South Florida Southeast AETC at [email protected].</hr

      References:

      1. Usha H, Naik BNR. Comparison of oral lesions in HIV patients with and without highly active antiretroviral therapy visiting government hospitals in Bengaluru city. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2017; 4(20), 1141-1147. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2017/224.