HIV Quandary: To Tell Your Dentist or Not October 25, 2005 By Nancy Volkers InteliHealth News Service INTELIHEALTH -- Nearly one in five HIV-positive Americans keeps the condition a secret from the dentist, but those who do confide in dentists may experience discrimination, says a national survey. Of those surveyed, 18% said they had not told their dentist they were HIV positive. However, 32% of those who disclosed their condition said they were discriminated against in some way, such as the dentist avoiding them or treating them as inferior. Respondents also experienced discrimination from other health care professionals, including doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Because HIV/AIDS can have oral effects and present special challenges in the dental office, people with HIV are encouraged to tell their dentists about their condition. To give people with HIV the most appropriate care, dentists should also have access to blood test results and medication dosages. The 1996 survey, called the HIV Cost and Utilization Study, included 2,466 HIV-positive Americans who received some type of health care that year. In addition to questions on perceived discrimination, the survey asked about oral health and health care costs. Most of those surveyed said their oral health was at least "good," but 12% reported their oral health as "poor." Almost 40% of those surveyed said they had dry mouth (xerostomia), a side effect of many medications. Xerostomia can increase the risk of tooth decay. In 1996, each HIV-positive American spent about $152 out of pocket per year on dental care. Those with private insurance spent $232 per person, while those who received care in AIDS clinics spent $7. In general that year, Americans above the poverty line spent $229 per person on dental care; Americans below the poverty line spent $157 per person. Studies based on the survey appear in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association and the September issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. They were conducted by researchers at RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif.