Nikolaos Nikitakis

Oral manifestations of HIV infection/AIDS: Where we stand in 2025

Professor Nikolaos G. Nikitakis
Dean of the School - Professor and Chair of the Department of Oral Medicine & Pathology and Hospital Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece

Abstract
Oral manifestations of HIV-infection were recognized, described and classified from the very beginning of the epidemic. The fact that they may be the first indication of the infection and their potential as early diagnostic and prognostic markers highlight their significance. In addition, they may have a negative impact on patient’s quality of life, contribute to HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and increase the psychological and financial burden of the condition.
In this lecture, the classification, incidence, clinical features, management and overall significance of these manifestations will be described. The effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HIV-related oral lesions, as well as the oral complications caused by ART, will be discussed. General and specialized dentists should be familiar with the changing trends in oral manifestations of HIV infection/AIDS in order to provide the best diagnostic, therapeutic and supportive services to their patients, as an integral and valuable part of a multidisciplinary team.

Professor Nikolaos G. Nikitakis received his DDS and MD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece and his PhD from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), USA. He is Diplomate of the ABOMP and Fellow of the AAOMP and AAOM. He has also completed a sabbatical in the School of Dentistry and MD Anderson Cancer Center in the University of Texas, Houston (UTH), USA.

Prof. Nikitakis is currently the Dean, as well as Professor and Chair, Department of Oral Medicine & Pathology and Hospital Dentistry, in the School of Dentistry, NKUA.

He is Past President of the European Association of Oral Medicine (EAOM), in which he served as Secretary General (2014-2018) and President (2018-2021). He is also currently President of the Hellenic Association of Oral Medicine and Pathology (HAOMP).

His clinical interests include the clinical and histopathologic diagnosis and management of oral and maxillofacial diseases, while his research endeavors primarily focus on oral, head and neck oncology/cancer research.

He has over 275 papers and 200 abstracts published in scientific journals, with approximately 3.900 citations and h index: 37 on Scopus and 6.400 citations and h index: 45 on Google Scholar. He is author of a textbook in Contemporary Oral Medicine and Pathology and of several chapters in other textbooks and handbooks. He serves in the Editorial Board of various scientific journals.

He has presented and lectured extensively in national and international meetings and has been invited as Visiting Professor/Lecturer in several Universities in Europe and America. For his scientific work, he has received several honors and awards.

He is the Chair of the Scientific Committee of the upcoming AAOM-EAOM Joint meeting in Las Vegas in 2025, and the President of the following EAOM-AAOM Joint meeting in Athens in 2027.