Oral health self-perception for transgender people: a controlled cross-sectional study

Abstract

This article aims to verify the use of dental services, oral health self-perception, and the impacts of oral health on the daily lives of transgender people. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in which transvestites, transsexuals, and transgender people were compared to cisgender people. For data collection, the oral health self-perception questionnaire was applied to 90 people, from which 45 were cisgender and 45 were transgender. There were no differences regarding access to dental services. The data analysis revealed that transgender people perceive their teeth to cause nervousness (p=0.002) and shame (p=0.033), respectively 3.8 and 5.0 times higher than that observed for cisgender people. Although differences in access were not observed, there was a difference in the perception of the need for treatment and the impacts of oral health. Therefore, it is important to consider that comprehensive care for the transgender population should go beyond the treatment of oral diseases and include aesthetic expectations as well.

Keywords

• self-assessment
• transgender persons
• transvestism.