[Question #1887] Clear path aligner HIV risk if contaiminated with blood or semen

89 months ago

Hello doctor

My doctors said it could be rare risk I got scared

I am having appointment for installing . Clear path aligner (they are replacement for traditional braces )

These braces are transparent and solid no brackets or wires for adjusting teeth

Removable and you can take them off before eating food

The problem I have on the clear path aligner/ braces themselves sometimes the can have blood type spots in them. they shouldn't be contaminated but I have fear because of my doctor who said going to dentist could be a rare risk

1) My question is can HIV blood live on clear path braces it's a solid object . How long should I keep it on my hand before I wear them for the first time if I think it's contaminated with HIV blood or secretion this I want to know now how long can HIV survive on it I'll Just wait at the clinic and keep it open just to be safe

2) Before applying if I dip them into water will that clean everything and kill any virus ?

3) What is the risk if they are contaminated it's more like I'll be having blood in my mouth I know digesting blood is zero risk . But if HIV is active on braces can the blood or secretions penetrate my gums ? Do gum sore or bleeding gums matter if not why ?

4) If I get cut by applying them can they penetrate my gums and What sort of cut puts you at risk this in my mind EVERYDAY ?

5) There is a lot of saliva in my mouth will that kill hiv also ?

6) Can blood go through my teeth ?

7) if they are contaminated what action I need to take to clean them before use

8) what needs to happen in my mouth if they are contaminated that would cause hiv ? What sort of action would lead to infection (would blood go through my gums or a major cut . Bleeding gums ) what needs to happen to cause HIV .this point is critical for me explain in detail please

No dentist equipment will be used on my mouth , just pick up the clear path aligner and insert it on my teeth for 3months and my teeth will get adjusted and straightened .

Is it NO RISK and can you tell me why this situation is no risk . Because doctors fall short on explaining the “why part “

Below is link of clear path aligner so that you what I'm talking about .

http://www.clearpathdental.com/clear-path-aligner.php

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

Welcome to the Forum. I happened to be on line when your questions arrived and will address them. Please understand that the site is not staffed 24/7 and further follow-up questions will not be responded to in the same way. I will try to help. You are victum of persons characterizing essentially no risk events bu stating that events are "rare" rather than "no" risk because wierd things happen rarely, new knowledge is constantly accruing, and our legal system has led people to say things that don't happen are "rare" when the fact is they have never been seen and logically will not. Short of failure to properly clean instruments and your aligner, this is a no risk event. No HIV infections have been described due to proper use of these things thus, if your doctor does things right, you should not be worried or let defensive wording feed your anxiety. As for your specific questions:

There are many factors which impact HIV survival. That said, transfer of HIV from person to person on the surface of an inanimate object is unheard of.

2) Before applying if I dip them into water will that clean everything and kill any virus ?

Immersion in water would also make HIV non-infectious.

I cannot see how the blood would get there to start with and do not understand the basis of this question.

4) If I get cut by applying them can they penetrate my gums and What sort of cut puts you at risk this in my mind EVERYDAY ?

No risk from putting your braces on, even if they cut you.

5) There is a lot of saliva in my mouth will that kill hiv also ?

Saliva DOES contain enzymes and a mixture of chemicals which inactivate HIV.

6) Can blood go through my teeth ?

No!

7) if they are contaminated what action I need to take to clean them before use

Not a relevant of realistic question.

No dentist equipment will be used on my mouth , just pick up the clear path aligner and insert it on my teeth for 3months and my teeth will get adjusted and straightened .

Once again, as I understand it (and I have looked at the web site you provided, I can see NO risk to you from using your own aligner on a regular basis.

EWH

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89 months ago

But doc .....

Your just saying that I should have faith in the dentist

I want to be 100 percent safe and don't want to back out of this because of fear it's just some doc said it could be a risk and I freaked out

He said if you get a bleeding injury you can get HIV

1) your saying cuts don't transmit HIV . I mean what sort of injury would transmit that's what I was hoping for you to tell me

2) I'll dip them in water just to be extra safe would that be enough doc ?

3) when I said gum contact I wanted to know if anything FLOW into my gums like that or there are natural defensive system . Just incase if my gums have issue ?

4) I have trust issue basically I am scared and I just don't know how it can be trasmiteed if it did have blood on them so can you help?

5) doc blood outside the body should be dead ?

But it in all honestly if I just dip them in glass of water is that enough I should just calm down water will kill all HIV ? I think that's the only confidence you can give me right now .

If I dip in water for 10 minutes is that okay doc ?

Doc HIV blood and semen how long do they live on surface ? Can you tell me About this ? When do they die ? I'll Like know your view on that

6) anyone gotton HIV this way ? And holy crap doc I am confused what do I do ? I can't back out also ........

Please advice on what steps i can take Just for peace of mind can you do that for me ? :(

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

I am not saying only to believe in your dentist ALTHOUGH I can't imagine you would go to a dentist or any other health care professional that you didn't trust, I am also saying, as I said above, that there is NO REALISTIC, SCIENCE-BASED reason for you to fear getting HIV infection from application of an aligner. HIV is transmitted in only two ways- through penetrative sexual contact or injection of infected material deep into tissue. Contact with infected material through touching, spillage, or casual contact has never been described as a cause of HIV infection. I am also suggesting that you are being unnecessarily paranoid.

As for your questions, some of which are repetitive:

1) your saying cuts don't transmit HIV . I mean what sort of injury would transmit that's what I was hoping for you to tell me.

Injection with a hollow-point needle would transmit HIV. Cuts, scrapes in sticks with solid metal objects would not transmit HIV, even if it had been on contact with HIV.

2) I'll dip them in water just to be extra safe would that be enough doc ?

Repetitive. I said -"Immersion in water would also make HIV non-infectious." above

3) when I said gum contact I wanted to know if anything FLOW into my gums like that or there are natural defensive system . Just incase if my gums have issue ?

Yes, I answered this as well. To clarify, contact of infected material with the surface of your gums or puncture by dental instruments or an aligner would not transmit infection

4) I have trust issue basically I am scared and I just don't know how it can be trasmiteed if it did have blood on them so can you help?

Surface contact with infected blood would almost certainly not transmit infection. I think your fright is due to incomplete knowledge of how HIV is transmitted. Other than the ways I mention above, HIV is almost never transmitted by other sorts of contact with infected material. Before you start to worry about my use of the words "almost never", please note that I say this because in science one can never be sure that something new, unexpected, or very rare might not be described tomorrow. I use "almost sure" in the same way that I tell you that I am "almost sure" that you are not going to be hit by a meteor falling from space while reading this reply. It is not something to worry about.

5) doc blood outside the body should be dead ?

HIV in blood or secretions becomes infectious almost immediately after it leaves the body and is exposed to air and the environment.

6) anyone gotton HIV this way ? And holy crap doc I am confused what do I do ?

No, no one has EVER gotten HIV through use of dental aligners. You have nothing to worry about. Your concerns are not a realistic reason to worry.

I hope this additional information is helpful. Take care. EWH

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89 months ago

Dear doc thanks for the assurance

I'll dip in water and it will be all good hiv becomes non infectious almost immediately after leaving body I understood that my anxiety has fallen . Dip in water let's not complicate :)

Doc all of this fine I want to use my follow up question regarding cut and one regarding difference between aids and HIV

Just to let you know what's in my mind I can share the information I have so that you know what's in my mind and it's not repetitive it's to gain knowledge from you I will write the question and you can tell me if you agree or disagree

Question 1) a cut needs direct access for the virus to enter your blood stream superficial cuts and sores (bleeding gums) must be deep enough to require medical attention(stitches) to potentially provide access to blood stream

And cause HIV

Do you agree on this ? I took the above quote from aids Vancouver website

Question 2) doc cuts from inanimate objects have resulted in HIV how many cases how did they get infected ? What knowledge you have or are aware of please provide information

Educational question

Aids test and HIV test

Q3)there are tests which say HIV test antigen /antibody for HIV 1 and 2 . If negative Does this mean you are negative for aids also ? .

Q4)4Are there separate tests for aids ? . Meaning if you test negative for HIV do you need to check if you have aids ? . Two different things ?

Q5)The combo test is meant to check for HIV and doesn't say aids , I tested negative after 10 years

I am saying This because I went to lab today got my result after . I came back negative for HIV 1/2 antigen antibody combo abbot diagnostics 4th generation latest technology lab said

I asked do you have aids test ? They said it's the same thing this is for aids and HIV are they correct ? I had a relationship 7years ago

How to check separately for aids test and what is the aids test called may you guide me ? My fear is testing after 10years and i needed aids test not HIV test

Or am I HIV and aids free ? Very important question My conversation now with you has been terminated due to rules please provide information on this post

If you want me to comeback I'll come back by Monday because I have to transfer money im sorry for that but can you clarify on this post

Edward W. Hook M.D.

89 months ago

Final answers:

1. Poor wording. All cuts are due to inanimate objects. In answer to the question I think you were asking, HIV is not transmitted by cuts which occur due to contact with inanimate objects and surfaces which were contaminated with HIV contaminated blood or secretions.

2. See above. I do not know of any HIV infections acquired from contact with inanimate objects. We do not debate or clarify statements taken from other internet web sites.

3. The test you describe was a test for the virus that causes AIDS. All persons with AIDS would have a positive test. AIDS is a late stage of longstanding HIV infection.

4. No, a test for HIV is a test for the AIDS virus. See above.

5. Your test proves that you did not acquire HIV from the events that occurred years ago and that you are not infected with the AIDS virus. You are HIV.AIDS free.

This thread is now over and will be closed. Take care. EWH

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