HIV And Dental Patient

[Clk55r1d3h]

Hello everyone,

I am a dental hygienist, and the other day I was cleaning a patient's teeth and few times before starting and during the treatment the patient touched his mouth (teeth) trying to show me something. I'm not as worried about the fact that he touched it before the treatment as I am when he touched it during the treatment.  He bled in few areas not crazy but there was some blood.  Now from what I remember he used his left hand.

Now, after I finished the cleaning on the way out he pat me on my shoulder and I felt his thumb touch my neck area.  I was wearing a gown so most of his hand touched my gown. I believe he used his right hand but not exactly sure. What I'm worried about is what if he had blood on his finger while he touched his teeth and it basically got on me.  The time from when he touched his teeth the last time was maybe around 5-10 min.  Am I being super irrational? Is there anything I should worry about when it comes to hiv and hep...I didn't have cuts, just a small red bump about to become a pimple.  Afterwards, I washed the area with soap and water, and also used hand sanitizer, which didn't burn, which tells me there were no open cuts just in case I missed it. Also, I didn't notice any visible blood on the gown or my neck.

I dunno y recently I've been a lot more paranoid about the blood and hiv.

[malbat]

You can't get HIV in the way you have described.  You're a dental hygienist, blood is going to be part and parcel of your life. Suggest you seek help for your fears. Tc