The dental community can be the first in identifying possible signs of HIV as dentists are more likely to identify patients who are unknowingly HIV-positive. This is because a significant portion of Americans will visit a dental office before they visit a medical office in the next year according to the Center for Disease Control (
CDC).There are oral conditions which may indicate the existence of HIV and, if identified, can provide an educational moment for oral health practitioners to discuss, counsel, and offer referral to HIV testing. According to the CDC, one of every five people living with HIV in the U.S. is unaware of their HIV status.
Early diagnosis and linkage to medical care can significantly improve health outcomes. Increasing the number of people who know their HIV status can also help reduce the number of new cases, as once people are aware of their infection, they are significantly less likely to put others at risk of transmission.
In some states, dental offices are conducting rapid HIV testing and this may be an appropriate venue in a public health facility or a private practice in a region with higher reports of HIV infection.
Thanks for this informative post. Advancement of technology is really upon us. It really bought a lot of changes most specifically on health and medical methods. HIV is totally a severe disease.You cannot notice its symptoms unless you reach its high stage. But now, you can identify whether you have HIV or not. I have read all about ELISA kit. This is an all in one kit in order for you to test whether you have a HIV thorugh blood sample. Many have already used it because of its relatively accurate result.
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