In addition, without legal protection, this community is at higher risk for unemployment, contributing to poverty and homelessness. 6 The structural differences experienced by this community result in an increase of barriers to oral and general healthcare. 2 Fewer than 18 states prohibit gender identity discrimination regarding employment, housing, education, and public accommodations (eg, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, theaters, medical offices, and pharmacies). This marginalized community encounters a complex layer of stigmas resulting in inequalities, including rejection of human rights. 4,5 Dental hygienists need to understand the complexity of social determinants of health and the impact of hormone replacement therapy during transitioning on oral and systemic health to provide patient-centered care. Research has estimated about one in every 250 adults identify with the transgender community, with the majority being young adults. Transgender people are often underreported due to familial, social, and psychological stressors related to public acceptance. 4 The number of people in the transgender community has doubled since 2011, and it is suspected this number may be even higher.

1–3 An estimated 1.4 million Americans identified as transgender in 2014 according to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Transgender individuals identify their gender, expression, and behavior differently than their biological sex established at birth. Identify pharmacological interventions for transgender people.Identify risk factors for systemic conditions for trans men and women.Apply dental hygiene management to provide patient-centered care for the transgender patient.Recognize determinants of health for the transgender community.This 2 credit hour self-study activity is electronically mediated.Īfter reading this course, the participant should be able to: The authors have no commercial conflicts of interest to disclose.

This course was published in the September 2020 issue and expires September 2023.

#TrueMessiahs by J.L. Gates