Onsite dental care is needed for HIV positive patients in Miami, FL

OBJECTIVE: An estimated 90% of HIV+ people have at least one oral manifestation of the disease. Many HIV health care facilities do not include dental services, and people living with HIV frequently report unmet dental care needs. This study examined barriers to accessing dental care, comparing HIV health facilities that provide dental care onsite with those that do not. METHODS: Structured interviews were conducted with 297 HIV+ patients receiving HIV care but not dental care in the preceding 12 months. Participants were recruited in 2005 from HIV clinics with or without onsite dental care. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Participants at sites with onsite dental clinics were less likely to report unmet dental care needs in the preceding 12 months (45% vs. 72%). Compared with participants at sites without dental services, participants at sites with dental clinics were less likely to report these reasons for not receiving needed dental care: could not afford care (39% vs. 69%), could not find a dentist that treats HIV patients (9% vs. 28%), did not know where to find care (13% vs. 31%), did not want to tell dentist they were HIV+ (4% vs. 17%). Multiple regression showed that onsite participants reported fewer barriers than offsite participants (ß=-1.40) after adjusting for age, gender, race, years since HIV diagnosis, drug used in past four weeks and currently in HIV medication. CONCLUSIONS: Onsite dental care as a part of HIV care programs may enhance access to dental care for people living with HIV.