Survey on AIDS, fear and infection control: attitudes affecting management decisions.

As a result of increased public concern about AIDS and dental treatment, dental professionals need to cope with legislative reactions, increased infection control costs, patient anxiety and vigilance on the part of law enforcement agencies regarding compliance with "universal precautions." Recommendations abound for educating patients about dental office infection control to allay irrational fears and market dental office asepsis, but few studies quantitatively measure these needs or address the behavioral concerns patients have about AIDS infection related to dental care. In this investigation, dental patients were surveyed to determine their beliefs, attitudes and behaviors regarding AIDS and dental office infection control. Several important educational caveats were identified. This paper considers these challenges and provides patient education and practice management recommendations consistent with a preventive focus on allaying dental patients' fears while building more successful dental practices.