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Avatar universal

tooth extraction, HIV?

Hi, I've posted literally the same question on a community support forum, but I want an expert opinion on this to get rid of my anxiety. I'm sorry for bothering you guys, but this has been worrying me for quite some time...

I had a wisdom teeth pulled out, and then 3 hours later, I used my tongue to lick my lips and the area around it. Then I found something sticky below my lower lip. My saliva touched it, and I kind of swallowed back the saliva.  And before that,  I spit out a blood clot from the tooth extraction wound (a pretty big clot, almost the 4/5 size of the fingernail).  I fear that could be body fluids spilled on me from a HIV patient, and that the fall off the blood clot may leave my wound susceptible to the virus.

The Aidsmap website says  "HIV transmission has not been reported as a consequence of contact with spillages of blood, semen or other body fluids."

Does that also include my scenario and so I don't have to worry?

Also, if the fluids spilled directly from a HIV patient to my tooth extraction wounds (while I was having the surgery), is there a risk?

Thank you!
4 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
My error in mentioning Teak when I should have simply referred to your earlier interchange on the HIV Community Forum.   That however does not change my reply.  You have nothing to worry about.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
sorry, reposting it again because I didn't type in the right name of the recipient....

To Doctor Hook,
Thank you so much doctor for your reply. Your answer really helped reduceed a lot of my anxiety. And I am very sorry that I didn't reply to you ahead of time. But I am just wondering what you meant by mentioning Teak giving me an answer, because I didn't find any comment from him in my previous post. Please let me know if you were referring to some other sources. Thank you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much doctor for your reply. Your answer really helped reduceed a lot of my anxiety. And I am very sorry that I didn't reply to you ahead of time. But I am just wondering what you meant by mentioning Teak giving me an answer, because I didn't find any comment from him in my previous post. Please let me know if you were referring to some other sources. Thank you!
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. I will write a somewhat longer reply than you received from Teak but the essential content of the reply will carry the same message that you have already received from Teak- extraction of a wisdom tooth carries no risk for HIV acquisition, either from use of uncleansed instruments or other modes of contamination.  Dentists and their assistants are trained to routinely avoid cross contamination of patients with blood or other secretions.  The blood you noticed was almost certainly yours, not from someone else.  Further there is no evidence that ingestion of material carrying the HIV virus causes infection.  There is no reason for concern and no reason related to the event you describe for HIV testing. EWH

This was a virtually no risk event.  I would not worry and see no need for testing related to the extraction of your wisdom teeth.   EWH
Helpful - 0

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