Tratamento odontológico ao paciente transgênero: o que o cirurgião dentista precisa saber?

Abstract

The term "transgender" is designated to describe the discordant relationship between biological sex and gender identity; individuals may identify as a man, woman, or somewhere else on the gender spectrum. The aim of this work is to conduct a literature review on the importance of understanding transgender patients in the dental context. To achieve this, a search was carried out in the Pubmed and Scielo databases using the keywords: "Transgender", "Dentistry”, and "Oral Health," with the Boolean operator "AND" as a search tool. No limitations were imposed regarding language or publication date. The results reveal a limited body of literature on this topic within the national context. Consequently, it is evident that some studies demonstrate the social vulnerability experienced by these patients in terms of social aspects, physical and mental health access. This disparity is attributable to various factors, such as the fear of judgment and prejudice, which are widely reported. However, there is a lack of content concerning the conduct of dentists in the dental care of transgender patients, and this needs to be addressed more comprehensively, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Therefore, detailed studies on the transgender experience and oral health providers, as well as professional conduct, are essential for the better dissemination of information