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Dental visit
I was at a periodontist the other day. The doc came in put clean gloves on and started measuring my gums with pic like instrument. A nurse outside the door questioned him on something…he left the room briefly and returned to working in my mouth. No new gloves. No new tool. I’m hoping he didn’t touch anything or get anything on gloves or tool, but it concerns me. Any HIV risk IF there could’ve been some sort of exposure to blood, germs, etc while he left the room - then came back to my mouth?
I wish I had just asked him to put new gloves on. And use a new tool.
Would love to hear from a medical professional if possible.
I wish I had just asked him to put new gloves on. And use a new tool.
Would love to hear from a medical professional if possible.
COMMUNITY LEADER
There are no medical professionals answering questions here. However, these forums are moderated, and medically inaccurate information is removed.
You were not at risk for HIV from this event. You can't get HIV from someone touching other stuff, and then touching any part of you, or getting stuff on a tool and then using it on any part of you.
The only risks for HIV in adults are:
1) Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles with IV drug users.
You cannot get HIV from fingers, gloves, or any other object.
You were not at risk for HIV from this event. You can't get HIV from someone touching other stuff, and then touching any part of you, or getting stuff on a tool and then using it on any part of you.
The only risks for HIV in adults are:
1) Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles with IV drug users.
You cannot get HIV from fingers, gloves, or any other object.
3 Comments
Thanks for the response. So even if the glove or tool contacted something (blood) hiv infected, it couldn’t? I think I’m most upset I didn’t say “new gloves and tools please” cuz then I wouldn’t be worried at all. Also I would hope a doctor would know better to change things out if he did touch something.
You are just re-asking the question I already answered, using different words.
Your situation involves personal contact with an object in air (glove, tools, maybe fluids, blood etc. ). You will be happy to learn that you had no risk, because you can't get hiv from personal contact except unprotected penetrating vaginal or anal with a penis, neither of which you did and you didn't share hollow needles to inject with which is the only other way to acquire hiv - there are only 3 ways to get hiv. Analysis of large numbers of infected people over the 40 years of hiv history has proven that people don't get hiv in the way you are worried is a risk.
HIV is a fragile virus in air or saliva and is effectively instantly dead in either air or saliva so the WORST that could happen is dead virus rubbed you, and obviously anything which is dead cannot live again so you are good. Blood and cuts would not be relevant in your situation since the hiv has become effectively dead, so you don't have to worry about them to be sure that you are safe.
There is no reason for a person to test when they are safe. The advice took into consideration that the other person might be positive, so move on and enjoy life instead of thinking about this non-event. hiv prevention is straightforward since there are only 3 ways you can become infected, so next time you wonder if you had a risk, ask yourself this QUESTION. "Did I do any of the 3?" Then after you say "No, I didn't" you will know that it's time to move on back to your happy life.
No one got hiv from what you did during 40 years of hiv history and no one will get it in the next 40 years of your life either. You can do what you did any time and be safe from hiv.
The other person's status is irrelevant when you have no exposure.
Your second post repeats your first one however the good news is that your worries are irrelevant to hiv transmission.
HIV is a fragile virus in air or saliva and is effectively instantly dead in either air or saliva so the WORST that could happen is dead virus rubbed you, and obviously anything which is dead cannot live again so you are good. Blood and cuts would not be relevant in your situation since the hiv has become effectively dead, so you don't have to worry about them to be sure that you are safe.
There is no reason for a person to test when they are safe. The advice took into consideration that the other person might be positive, so move on and enjoy life instead of thinking about this non-event. hiv prevention is straightforward since there are only 3 ways you can become infected, so next time you wonder if you had a risk, ask yourself this QUESTION. "Did I do any of the 3?" Then after you say "No, I didn't" you will know that it's time to move on back to your happy life.
No one got hiv from what you did during 40 years of hiv history and no one will get it in the next 40 years of your life either. You can do what you did any time and be safe from hiv.
The other person's status is irrelevant when you have no exposure.
Your second post repeats your first one however the good news is that your worries are irrelevant to hiv transmission.
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