Transgender Individuals in the Eyes of Dental Professionals: A Data-Driven Study

Transgender individuals continue to face discrimination, particularly in accessing oral healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate dentists' attitudes toward transgender people and their knowledge of gender-affirming care.

A questionnaire assessing demographic data, clinical approaches, and knowledge of gender-affirming care was distributed via social media, professional chambers, and associations. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS, with Chi-square and Fisher exact tests, alongside logistic regression for appropriate questions.

A total of 403 dentists participated, with 8% reporting professional prejudices against transgender individuals. Dentists who associated transgender patients with increased clinical infection rates were statistically more likely to hold prejudices (p < 0.05). Additionally, 60.2% expressed interest in training to enhance communication with transgender patients. Female dentists were significantly more likely to be open to such training (p < 0.05).

The findings highlight a strong desire among dentists for training to improve communication with transgender patients, along with a lack of knowledge about key topics such as gender-affirming, endogenous hormones, and their oral health implications. This underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives in the dental community.