In this article published in Frontiers in Oral Health, CareQuest Institute researchers found that individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ reported significantly higher levels of both discrimination and microaggressions in dental settings compared with non-LGBTQ+ individuals.
The study utilized data from the State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, a national representative survey including responses on sexual orientation and gender identity of more than 15,000 US adults.
Inclusivity in research, education, and dental practice is important because experiencing discrimination and microaggressions in dental care is linked with poor oral health outcomes. The authors noted:
The findings of this study emphasize the critical need for inclusive, affirming dental practice environments in which patients of all sexual orientations and gender identities feel comfortable and accepted.”
Authors also highlighted the need to integrate culturally responsive care into dental education, training, and licensure frameworks, citing a recent American Dental Education Association survey. “While many dental schools signal broad support for diversity,” they wrote, “LGBTQ+ inclusion, especially in curriculum and clinical training remains limited, inconsistent and largely informal, leaving graduates underprepared to meet the oral health needs of queer and transgender patients.”
Read the article in Frontiers in Oral Health (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- Mapping the Health Divide: LGBTQIA+ Oral Health and the Role of Policy Inclusion, a report featuring state-level analysis of transgender and cisgender queer people’s access to dental care, general and oral health indicators, and social drivers of health.
- Oral Health and the LGBTQ+ Community: A Snapshot of Disparities and Discrimination, a report examining the oral health experiences of individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.
- Caring for LGBTQ+ Patients: Five Tips and a Look at the Latest Data, a blog post with practical strategies to help oral health professionals create safe and inclusive environments for patients of all identities and orientations.