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Review
. 2022 Oct 1;56(3):131-139.
eCollection 2022 Oct.

"Trans-forming" dental practice norms: Exploring transgender identity and oral health implications

Jessica Tamrat  1
Affiliations
Review

"Trans-forming" dental practice norms: Exploring transgender identity and oral health implications

Jessica Tamrat. Can J Dent Hyg. .

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: This narrative review explores current research to broaden understanding and awareness of the transgender experience while identifying oral health needs and proposing strategies of inclusivity to optimize oral health outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive electronic literature search was conducted in the following online databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Education Source. The search yielded 35 articles with a wide range of study designs and methodologies.

Results & discussion: Several themes emerged from the literature, including psychosocial oral health implications, barriers to oral health care, inclusive dental practice strategies, and cultural competence of oral health providers.

Conclusion: The transgender population experiences many social and health disparities that stem from discrimination. Systemic inequalities, coupled with other barriers to care, have significant oral health implications for this population. Implementing inclusivity strategies and gaining awareness of the transgender experience will contribute to better oral health outcomes in this community.

Objectif: La présente analyse documentaire explore les recherches actuelles visant à élargir la compréhension et la sensibilisation à l’expérience transgenre tout en définissant les besoins en matière de santé buccodentaire et en proposant les stratégies d’inclusion pour optimiser les résultats de santé buccodentaire.

Méthodologie: Une recherche documentaire électronique exhaustive a été menée dans les bases de données en ligne suivantes : PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL et Education Source. Cette recherche a produit 35 articles ayant une vaste gamme de plans d’études et de méthodologies.

Résultats et discussion: Plusieurs thèmes sont ressortis de la littérature, y compris les implications psychosociales de la santé buccodentaire, les obstacles aux soins buccodentaires, les stratégies inclusives de pratique dentaire et la compétence culturelle des fournisseurs de soins buccodentaires.

Conclusion: La population transgenre connaît de nombreuses inégalités sociales et sanitaires qui relèvent de la discrimination. Les inégalités systémiques, combinées à d’autres obstacles aux soins, ont des répercussions importantes sur la santé buccodentaire de cette population. La mise en œuvre de stratégies d’inclusion et la prise de conscience de ce que vivent les transgenres contribueront à améliorer les résultats en matière de santé buccodentaire de cette communauté.

Keywords: discrimination; health care curricula; oral health barriers; oral health care providers; transgender; transgender dental health; transgender identity; transgender oral health.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Logos and images representing the gender and sexual diversity of LGBTQ+ communities
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Recommendations by Entero Communications and the Canadian Standards Association Group for universal washroom signage in health care facilities
Figure 3a.
Figure 3a.
Gender-inclusive washroom signage at a) the University of British Columbia; b) the Vancouver Park Board; and c) the City of Kelowna-
Figure 3b
Figure 3b
Figure 3c
Figure 3c
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See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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