Dentists and dental personnel who treat you will use "universal precautions" to prevent the spread of infection. This includes wearing gloves, a mask and gown, and following infectious-disease precautions. This protects them from being infected while treating you. However, you should remember that other people you associate with may become infected.
Most people are first infected with HSV-1 during childhood. Infection happens through close contact with family members, or through contact with saliva or nasal secretions from other children. The first time children are infected, they may have a fever, a sore mouth, and red and inflamed gums. Teens and young adults with first infections may have inflamed gums, mouth ulcers and a sore throat. Adults infected for the first time may have a sore throat or tonsillitis. They also occasionally have sores in the mouth.
After the first infection, the virus hides in nerves near the skin. In some people, the virus never returns or "reactivates." Other people have reactivations or secondary herpes episodes or outbreaks. These episodes produce sores (called cold sores) on and around the lips.
Doctors don't know why the virus "turns on" again, but stress can be a factor. Potential stressors include:
- Mental and emotional stress
- Dental treatment
- Trauma to the lips
- Sun exposure
You may be worried that going to the dentist will bring on a cold sore. Research has found that taking antiviral medicine before you visit the dentist can help decrease the chances of cold sores. Most antiviral medicines require a prescription. You may want to call your dentist and request one.
You can transmit hepatitis to dental care personnel through blood or blood-contaminated saliva. Dental care personnel are often vaccinated for type A and type B hepatitis. There is no vaccine for type C hepatitis.
If you have hepatitis, make sure your dentist is aware of your condition.
Epstein-Barr virus infection may also cause a mouth lesion or patch called hairy leukoplakia, which looks white. It usually shows up on the side of the tongue. It's most common in people with weakened immune systems. No treatment is needed for hairy leukoplakia. It will go away if you take antiviral drugs. But it usually returns after drug therapy is stopped.
Epstein-Barr virus has also been associated with cancer of the upper part of the throat.