Implicit Bias Among Dental Professionals: A Scoping Review

Presented at the 2024 International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research General Session

This scoping review evaluated the existence of implicit bias among oral health professionals and the potential impact on patient outcomes. Findings suggest that implicit bias impacts the clinical decision-making of dental professionals, particularly among recommendations for extractions and surgery for oral cancer.

Researchers recommend further study to determine how much implicit bias contributes to oral health disparities and more training on the topic within dental education and to increase workforce diversity.