Unique challenges

We’re lucky to live at a time when we have a broader range of patients entering the dental chair every day. More people are openly expressing themselves as members of the LGBTQ+ community, which can help clinicians identify potentially unique treatment needs.

With greater awareness of the risks presented to these patients, dentists can devise more effective treatment plans for each individual.

Outside factors

Blanket assumptions cannot be made for every LGBTQ+ patient, and they will have completely different oral health statuses dependent on their daily lives.

Being LGBTQ+ does not predispose you to oral health issues, but coping with stresses in daily life – such as homophobia, transphobia, social stigmas, or social isolation and rejection – may contribute to stress and oral health-related concerns. For example, lesbian, gay and bisexual adults smoke tobacco and drink alcohol at higher rates than their heterosexual peers, have a higher risk of poor mental health, and have an increased risk of oral disease due to harmful eating behaviours. Each of these has been established as a contributing factor to oral health issues.