title: HIV and dentistry in Australia: clinical and legal issues impacting on dental care.
abstract: The number of people in Australia living with HIV is growing. This reflects a consistent rate of new HIV infections combined with an increased life expectancy of people with HIV. Dentists are ideally positioned to identify, manage and treat HIV-associated oral manifestations and have a responsibility to themselves and to their patients to be up-to-date with the evolving area of HIV and related issues. Those issues include medico-legal implications associated with HIV diagnosis and treatment. This article provides a review of the current clinical and medico-legal aspects of HIV in Australia. The oral manifestations of HIV can be divided into five categories: microbiological infections (fungal, bacterial and viral); oral neoplasms; neurological conditions; other oral conditions that may be associated with HIV infection; and oral conditions associated with HIV treatment. Current treatment options in the scope of general dental practice are outlined. Medico-legal issues related to the management of patients with HIV are explored, including rights of the patient regarding disclosure of HIV status; an algorithm for the management of a patient with signs or symptoms indicating possible HIV infection, including referral pathways; and an algorithm for dealing with patient management and referral issues.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D003815:Dentists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011287:Prejudice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012017:Referral and Consultation