HIV experts' advice may change

For the last twelve months Dental Protection has actively lobbied for a review of the advice of the UK Advisory Panel for Healthcare Workers Infected with Blood-borne Viruses (UKAP) as it applies to dentists with HIV. There is no evidence to show that the disease can be transmitted in the dental setting where appropriate infection control procedures are applied. When this lack of evidence for transmission is combined with the availability of anti-retroviral drugs, that can control the disease to the point that levels of the virus become undetectable, it is important that the present draconian measure, which forces the dentist to stop practising, should be reassessed.

Last year Dental Protection initiated the debate in the British Dental Journal with an article reviewing the available data and invited a response from UKAP. Discussions in the columns of that publication and subsequent lobbying at different levels met with an inert response from most UK quarters apart from the British Dental Association whose Rep Body unanimously passed a motion in support of a review.

Dental Protection has now received a letter from The Chief Dental Officer for England confirming that a review of these policies will now go ahead with a working group due to meet in the autumn. One of the specific issues to be examined will be the current restrictions on primary care dentists with HIV.

Kevin Lewis, Dental Director said, "It is reassuring to think that a scientific approach will at last be applied to a situation which can create financial ruin for any UK dentist with HIV. These dentists are also patients themselves, and the present guidelines simply add to the anxiety that they already face and without any reasonable justification. The evidence base is there for all to see and most of the dentists in the developed world and the authorities, who regulate them, now rely on effective infection control to ensure patients are adequately protected. I am delighted to know that the Chief Dental Officer has expressed his interest in this matter, and can only hope that the anticipated infection control advice to be issued by his department later this year will provide the basis for the continued employment of this group of valuable dental professionals.'