HIV Dental Care

We provide preventive, routine and emergency dental services tailored to your HIV infection in a state-of-the-art, friendly, and knowledgeable dental clinic. We offer:

• Cleanings
• Complete and partial dentures and other dental services
• Emergency and routine oral examinations
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Oral home care instructions and supplies
• Peridontal (gum) procedures

Eligibility: Who can receive services in the Dental Clinic

We provide care to people living with HIV if:

• You live in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Douglas or Jefferson County.
• You are seeing a primary health care provider. If your primary care through Denver Health, please bring verification of HIV status and a letter about your current treatment from your primary health care provider.
• You have Denver Health Medicaid (you won't need any additional screening).
• You have a current (renewed annually) CICP screening.

Missed Appointments

We have many people waiting to get dental care and we want to use our available clinic appointments as efficiently as possible. Please be aware of the following policy on missed visits.

• You must call 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
• You need to arrive no later than 10 minutes after the scheduled appointment time or it will be considered a missed appointment. 

Waiting List

We often have a waiting list for appointments because there is such a high demand for dental care. Please call (303) 602-8200 to find out your status on the waiting list.

HIV Support Services

Social Work Services

We offer clinical social work services to patients and their partners/families. We can help with the social, psychological, financial, and family difficulties that are associated with HIV and other illnesses and infections. Our social work team can:

• Help you find programs and services that will improve your access to medical care and medicines.
• Help you through the Social Security disability application process.
• Counsel and support you and your family about: New HIV/AIDS diagnosis.
  • End of life issues.
  • Health issues and information.
  • Grief and loss.
  • Substance use/abuse, mental health, and domestic violence.
• Connect you to resources in the community for transportation, housing and medical benefits.
• Provide information and education for you and your family about HIV/AIDS, including healthy relationships and lifestyles, and ensuring safe sex and harm reduction techniques.
• Coordinate services while you are in the hospital and when you go home.
• Arrange for your placement into a shelter, medical respite bed, assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, or hospice.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Mental health care providers include a psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse-specialist, and a certified addictions counselor. Our team provides the following mental health services:

• Diagnostic interviews for depression, trauma symptoms, anxiety, sleep problems, and/or anger issues. 
• Medication management.
• Psychotherapy, including relationship issues.
• Substance abuse treatment.
• Support for health maintenance and improvement.

The "411" HIV Information & Support Group

3rd Wednesday of every month from noon - 1:30 p.m. Call 303-602-8710 for more information.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people between the ages of 15 and 65 be screened for HIV, as well as women who are pregnant and unsure of their HIV status.

Individuals who are at an increased risk of getting HIV should get tested every six months. These individuals include the following:

• Gay and bi-sexual men
• Men who have sex with men (MSM)
• Transgender people, especially transgender women
• People who have condom-less vaginal or anal sex
• People who share injection drug equipment

People who are at a decreased risk for HIV should ask their provider when they should get tested. These individuals include:

• People who are not sexually active
• People who are sexually active in exclusive relationships with people who do not have HIV.

African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to be impacted by HIV, both nationally and in Colorado. More frequent HIV testing is recommended for these populations.

Beginning treatment as soon as HIV is detected improves health outcomes. It also decreases the risk of transmitting HIV to other people, which is key to slowing, and eventually ending, the HIV epidemic.

All of our testing sites offer linkage to care services, so people who test positive for HIV can start getting the care they need. This includes support services, referrals to HIV medical care providers, confirmatory laboratory services, and access to the HIV drug assistance program (ADAP).

People most often get a Salmonella infection by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. It is important to remember that contaminated foods can look and smell normal. Any food, including vegetables, may be contaminated, but foods that are most commonly contaminated with Salmonella are:

• Beef
• Poultry
• Milk
• Eggs

Salmonella may also be found in the feces of animals including:

• Pets and livestock
• Chicks and young birds, pet birds such as parakeets
• Reptiles such as turtles, lizards and snakes
• Rodents such as mice, hamsters and guinea pigs
• Salmonella can also be found in some pet foods and pet treats.

• Salmonella germs can be spread by an infected person who did not wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom.
• Salmonella can also be spread from person-to-person in places like childcare facilities, residential living facilities such as nursing homes or group homes, and through certain types fo seual contact (e.g., oral-anal contact).