Abstract

LIMERES-POSSE, Jacobo; TOMAS-CARMONA, Inmaculada; VAZQUEZ-GARCIA, Emma  and  DIZ-DIOS, Pedro. Changes in the oral health habits in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. RCOE [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.2, pp.141-145. ISSN 1138-123X.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse long-term changes in frequency of tooth brushing and dental care request in HIV-infected patients subjected to a longterm follow-up. Patients and method: A group of 200 HIV-infected patients underwent oral examination in 1992. They filled out a questionnaire about frequency of tooth brushing and visits to the general dental practitioner before seroconversion and during that year. In 2002, 56 patients were re-examined and re-enquired, allowing us to analyse the attitudes of this cohort towards dental care, and compare them to the Spanish general population. Results: Oral hygiene significantly improved during the follow-up period (45% of patients brushed their teeth less than once a day before seroconversion; 25% did so in 1992 and 13% in 2002). The frequency of regular visits to the dental clinic increased 15% between 1992 and 2002. Conclusion: Dental hygiene habits and oral health in long-term HIV-positive patients are similar to the general population. 

Keywords : HIV; AIDS; Dental care; Oral health; Dental treatment; Dentistry.

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