Open AccessDental Examinations as an Untapped Opportunity to Provide HIV Testing for High-Risk Individuals
Author(s) -
Harold A. Pollack,
Lisa R. Metsch,
Stephen Abel
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2008.157230
Subject(s) - human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , dental care , family medicine , environmental health , gerontology , risk assessment , computer science , computer security
We used data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey to examine the potential role of dental care in reaching untested individuals at self-reported risk for HIV. An estimated 3.6 million Americans report that they are at significant HIV risk yet have never been HIV tested. Three quarters of these people have seen a dentist within the past 2 years. Dental care offers opportunities to serve at-risk individuals who are otherwise unlikely to be tested or to receive preventive care services.