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Question- I went to a very shady dentist this week. He is actually being reported to the Dept of Health. He only performed a teeth cleaning but after everything I have found out about this doctor (through the receptionist), I am nervous. He used a scraper for my teeth that im not sure if it was clean or used on person before me, he pulled un-bagged/not covered out of a drawer. The suction for saliva was not replaced, the only thing i know is that he wore new gloves. I have tiny cut or two on the inside of my cheek from either before or during the appt. Is there any chance that I could have been exposed to a blood borne virus, more specifically HIV? I know that HIV is fragile, I know you cannot get it environmentally, but if there were to be blood stuck in the suction or on the equipment mixed with a cut in the mouth, I'm not sure, I have to ask. Thanks in advance.
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Avatar universal
Thank you, any other advice on any other diseases/viruses i should be worried about from this experience so i can go to a different forum if need be?
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Avatar universal
Correct no reason for worry, and any type of suction deviced that has ever been used on me has an opening at the tip to allow any fluids to be sucked in...so this is where the oxygen would also get in.
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Avatar universal
Agreed, I just wasnt sure because in the tube of the suction that he put in my lower lip, i thought maybe blood could live longer or stay activated longer because it is being shielded from oxygen/environment in there kind of like how needles are. So you are definitely saying there is no reason for worry or risk here?
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Avatar universal
You know HIV is fragile, then any blood that would have been from a patient before you would have been deactivated by the time you sat down.
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