Oral and Gastrointestinal
Dental Patients Who Are HIV Positive
February 2001
Clinical Focus*
- Are HIV/AIDS patients at increased risk of complications (e.g., local infection, systemic infection, increased bleeding, delayed healing, or alveolitis) from intra-oral dental procedures (e.g., extractions, orthognathic surgery, periodontal therapy, endodontics, prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, and dental implants) as compared with similar patients without HIV/AIDS?
- What are the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of hairy leukoplakia, oral candidiasis, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, oral ulcers, and parotid swelling as markers of recent HIV seroconversion (i.e., within 12 weeks after exposure)?
- What are the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of hairy leukoplakia, oral candidiasis, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, oral ulcers, parotid swelling, linear gingival erythema, and Kaposi's sarcoma as indicators of severe immunosuppression—as measured by CD4 lymphocyte count and plasma viral load of HIV—in persons with HIV/AIDS?
- What is the efficacy of available antifungal agents—nystatin formulations, clotrimazole, amphotericin B suspension, ketoconazole, fluconazole formulations, and itraconazole formulations—as prophylactic measures for oral candidiasis in persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS? This question is intended to examine the prevention of both recurrences and first-time infections, although the primary focus is on recurrences.
- What is the effectiveness of currently available antifungal drugs—nystatin formulations, clotrimazole, amphotericin B suspension, ketoconazole, fluconazole formulations, and itraconazole formulations—for the treatment of oral candidiasis in persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS?
*Addressed in the summary or evidence report.
Management of Dental Patients Who Are HIV Positive
Summary (Publication No. 01-E041, February 2001)
Evidence Report (Publication No. 01-E042, March 2002)
(File Download)
EPC: Research Triangle Institute/UNC-CH
Topic Nominator: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
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