PUBLICATION
Improving Knowledge, Comfort, and Attitudes for LGBTQIA+ Clinical Care and Dental Education
Oral health does not exist in a silo. The mouth-body connection is a biological aspect of physical wellbeing that exists alongside the social and political drivers of whole-person health. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and agender/ asexual people, and people of other marginalized gender or sexual identities (LGBTQIA+), have experienced historical exclusion from healthcare systems perpetuated by chronic stigma. Ongoing discrimination, cultural insensitivity, and blatant homophobia/transphobia among healthcare staff results in poor health outcomes, including oral health.
Although a demonstrated need exists to explore drivers of disparity and develop evidence-based solutions that address the oral health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people, little research focuses on the intersection of oral health and LGBTQIA+ healthcare. AIDPH surveyed oral health professionals to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices among a broad range of oral health professionals regarding LGBTQIA+ oral health. Topics addressed included perceived barriers to care and best practices.
Key findings include:
Oral health professionals generally reported feeling comfortable working with LGBTQIA+ people in both personal and professional capacities. However, respondents were least comfortable around transgender, nonbinary, or gender diverse youth and adults
Responses were mixed around knowledge of the unique oral healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ patients.
Dental institutions struggle to prioritize LGBTQIA+ oral health as a core aspect of clinical training among future dental clinicians.
Additional resources: