Rapidly progressive periodontitis as an important clinical marker for HIV disease.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients are in desperate need of the clinical therapies that can enable them to retain their dentition for the rest of their lives. It is important to weigh the social, clinical-oral, and radiographic assessments with all patients, especially those with undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Many experience denial and are noncompliant with both medical and dental prevention. Many HIV-infection-related sequelae are first seen intraorally; dentists must be aware of them and consider all patients as HIV carriers until proved otherwise. HIV-associated gingivitis has been demonstrated to progress to HIV-associated periodontitis. Therefore, early recognition and management of HIV-associated gingivitis is essential to prevent the rapid loss of hard and soft periodontal tissues.