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

Course Overview

This 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 that 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.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Describe the current epidemiology of HIV/AIDS.
• Review the basic pathogenesis of HIV as it relates to CD4+ lymphocytes.
• List the modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS and the methods to prevent its transmission in the dental environment.
• Identify the most common oral opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS and their impact upon dental treatment.
• Describe the medical management of HIV/AIDS inclusive of the new medications used for pre-exposure prophylaxis and their implications for oral health and the prognosis of this disease.
• Discuss the dental treatment modifications that may be necessary for patients with HIV/AIDS, especially during the advanced stages of immunosuppression.
   

About the Author/Presenter 

Mark Szarejko, DDS, FAGD, received his dental degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dentistry in 1985 and Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 1994. He has been an examiner for the State of Florida Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Examinations since 1994. He has also served as an expert witness for the state of Florida and for private companies. He has authored and edited many dental continuing education courses and has given presentations on varied dental topics to local, regional, and national audiences. For nearly half of his career, he has served as a dentist in a county correctional system, in which the incidence of HIV/AIDS is much higher compared to that of the general population. Surgical and nonsurgical dental treatment for patients with HIV/AIDS is a common occurrence in this setting and allows him to have a unique perspective on the oral manifestations of patients with HIV/AIDS and their dental treatment. 
 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Dental
AGD Code: 750

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