Dentists in NY?

[mpositive]

Good morning folks. 
Well, as I get further along in this new infection and diagnosis I am trying to get certain things in order.  I hear so much about the further importance of oral care for HIV folks.
I need to find a dentist in Manhattan, preferably one that has experience working with HIV patients.  I am a little nervous about telling a new dentist that I am HIV+ when I first enroll with them.  I know I will relax more about that as time goes on, but for now, this is where I am.
Anyone know?
Also, hoping they take Guardian Insurance.
Thanks all!
M

[dixieman]

Check with your hiv doctor in NYC... also, check with a social worker etc... NYC has plenty of resources for you to choose from... try googling dentist who treat HIV patients etc... but, under protocol all dentists should treat a patient who has hiv...

[Assurbanipal]

I'm in NJ, but wanted to say that I got a great dentist referral from my caseworker.  Have you established a relationship with an ASO in the City?  They get a lot of feedback on doctors and dentists and the caseworkers can give great recommendaations.

[mpositive]

Ok, not to sound so naive, but what is an ASO?   Other than that, thanks so much for all your input.

M

[Miss Philicia]

Ok, not to sound so naive, but what is an ASO?   Other than that, thanks so much for all your input.

M

An ASO = AIDS Service Organization

If you live in NYC go to GMHC on W 24th St - new client intake hours listed here:

http://www.gmhc.org/programs.html

As far as dentistry, Callen Lorde on W. 18th St has an excellent clinic:

http://www.callen-lorde.org/services/oral.html

[Assurbanipal]

Ok, not to sound so naive, but what is an ASO?   Other than that, thanks so much for all your input.

M

What Miss P said. 

And, hope this doesn't come across as too pushy, but it sounds like this is all pretty new to you and coming at you pretty fast.  I was in your shoes a few years back, and if I were you and your time is limited I would put a much higher priority on meeting with a caseworker at an ASO than looking for a dentist at this point.  A good caseworker can help you understand the various resources you can tap into and help you get there.  You are likely to have a better "map" and be more successful at navigating the maze of providers and care after you have established an ASO or caseworker as a resource.

Good luck
A

[Miss Philicia]

mpositive, I see from your handful of older posts that you are a straight male.  I will trust that your comfort level is OK around others not of your similar sexuality, and add that GMHC, while originally standing for Gay Men's Health Crisis and still called that, is NOT just for gay men.  Sure, there are a lot of gay men there but as someone that lived in NYC all during the nineties and HIV+ then, by the time I moved away at the end of 2004 GMHC was quite diverse. 

If you look over their web site you'll see that they offer what is probably the most comprehensive list of services in the entire US, so you really should avail yourself of the opportunity that so many of our HIV+ brothers and sisters do not have.

I will offer this additional recommendation as you had earlier discussed places for support groups, though I didn't not offer this as you were looking for solely groups of heterosexual males (did you ever find this?).  There is a really, really great organization called Friends in Deed in SoHo which is a "crisis center" for people with life-threatening illnesses, though I would  wager that it's 95% HIV+ oriented in truth.  As far as sexuality goes you know, people in NYC are more relaxed with this issue and I was never one to go around asking others at such groupings.  Seemed mixed to me, but to a straight male would probably seem outnumbered but you're going to encounter that in most things.  There were definitely straight women there, and in fact it's run by a straight woman.  Anyway, they run what I found to be the very best support groups in NYC -- a very affirming environment:

http://www.friendsindeed.org

Click on "program schedule" in the left margin and look at both "drop-in groups" (they recommend beginning with one of their "Big Group" meetings and I would agree - I found the ones led by Cynthia O'Neal the best at the time), then also click on "workshops" and you'll see why I say it's a great place -- so many different topics to explore with others.

[SoSadTooBad]

Dr Simon Rosenberg   399 East72nd St - corner of 1st Ave and 72nd.

212-988-8822

Great guy, great staff, fantastic work and really thorough.  Not cheap, but he takes a lot of insurance.

I was a patient for 7 years before I found out I was (+)...  He was caring and compassionate about it, and the care I get is just as good if not better than before.