The pandemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is now firmly entrenched in the South-East Asian region. The World Health Organization forecasts that the Indian epidemic will overtake that of the African scenario in a few years (1). This implies that as health care professionals, dental practitioners should be knowledgeable of the disease processes, oral manifestations and modes of transmission appertaining to the HIV infection. Furthermore, they should be familiar with preventive strategies including management and instruction of the dental team and education of the public.