Review of HIV/AIDS for Dental Professionals, 2nd Edition

Course overview

This intermediate-level course begins with a foundational review of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS, the modes of transmission, and methods of prevention in the dental healthcare setting. The course discusses the most common oral manifestations among patients with HIV/AIDS, their clinical appearance, and their underlying etiologic factors, which can reach a pathogenic state during HIV/AIDS-induced immunosuppression. The course also describes several antiviral medications that have been developed to treat patients with HIV/AIDS. It will also include the new medications which have been introduced for the pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV. Their mechanisms of action and their potential adverse side effects, which discourage patient compliance, will be discussed. Dental treatment considerations for patients with HIV/AIDS, when necessary, highlight patient-tailored treatment modifications and proactive medical consultation that may be required before any dental treatment.