A new Williams Institute study has found that many HIV-positive people still face routine discrimination when accessing dental care, The Huffington Post reports. The study surveyed 612 dentist offices throughout Los Angeles County and found that 5 percent of all dental providers have a blanket policy of refusing services to HIV-positive individuals, with many claiming they lacked the necessary extra infection control precautions required for such treatment. The survey also revealed that an additional 5 percent of dentists would treat HIV-positive patients in ways that could potentially violate anti-discrimination laws. On a more positive note, the study found that 90 percent of all dental offices in Los Angeles said they would accept an HIV-positive patient—although the results varied across different parts the country, often aligned with the rate of infection among area residents.

To read the Huffington Post article, click here.