Indeed, dentists are often the first to suspect a patient's HIV infection, he said. Patients without HIV infection also may have lesions in the mouth, of course, but an astute dentist can discern differences, Dr. Konzelman said. The lesions can also assume a different appearance than those of patients with healthy immune systems. An HIV-infected patient is at risk for many forms of oral lesions, he said, which vary in degree of pain and severity. Dentists must accurately diagnose the exact type of lesion to treat it, he said, noting that effective treatment is vital.
Proper management is critical to patients' well-being.
There are even conditions that can have disastrous consequences. For instance, one type of oral ulcer can lead to blindness if left untreated. Dr. Konzelman contributes to a website that disseminates information about HIV infection to health care professionals.