Our last post, which focused on oral health concerns for women, mentioned that trans individuals may also be at increased risk for problems like gum disease. In honor of Pride Month, we feel it’s a great time to share a little more information about oral health concerns for trans patients.
Hormone Treatments Vary Between Trans Patients
The specific hormone cocktails for each trans patient vary greatly. Hormone treatments may also change throughout the course of a person’s transition. It can take a lot of trial and error to arrive at the correct balance, and a person’s needs may change as their body adapts to hormones that previously worked for them.
Certain hormones are commonly understood to be ubiquitous for hormone therapy. For example, testosterone is nearly always used for masculinizing hormone therapy. For male-to-female transitions, things are a bit more complicated. Estrogen is considered the main feminizing hormone, but there are others used in tandem with it. Sometimes this means progesterone, sometimes spironolactone, and the specific hormones and proportions of each often change throughout the course of treatment.
No matter what type of transition or what hormone cocktail a patient uses, however, most will experience some oral health complications as a result.
Hormone Treatments May Cause Oral Health Concerns in Trans Patients
Regardless of what type of hormone treatment a patient undergoes, many will be at increased risk for gum disease as a result.
Estrogen and progesterone are both linked to periodontal disease. If a patient experiences a sudden dip in estrogen, such as a female-to-male trans patient, or a menopausal patient, it triggers the body to eat away at the bone tissue supporting the teeth.
However, sudden spikes in estrogen such as in male-to-female transitions, as well as pregnancy, trigger inflammation which can lead directly to chronic gum disease.
If you are undergoing any hormone treatment, whether as a trans individual, or as a cis-gendered patient, it is very important to talk to your physician about what side effects these treatments may have on your oral health. And always let your dental team know as well! Knowledge of your medication list is essential to providing you with the best dental care.
Trans Patients May Have More Fear of Dentists
As easy as it is to say, “let us know if you are on hormone therapy,” it can be really hard for trans individuals to feel comfortable sharing this information. Trans people, as well as many LGBTQIA+ patients, face increased discrimination in medical offices.
According to one cross-sectional survey, trans patients are more likely to experience sever dental fear that keeps them from seeking treatment. Fear of the dentist is already at the top of most lists of the most common fears in the world. However, when you combine that with a patient’s possible history of medical discrimination, it’s no wonder trans and LGBTQIA+ patients have additional barriers to great oral health.
Trans individuals may also have a harder time accessing care. They may find it more difficult to secure insurance coverage, for example, and generally have a much harder time finding clinicians who they feel comfortable with, and who are willing to educate themselves on the health concerns specific to trans people.
This is obviously a complex issue. One thing we can do is assure all our patients that Lake Baldwin Dental is a safe space, and all patients will be treated with the dignity they deserve.
Excess Stress Also Increases Oral Health Concerns for Trans People
As we have discussed in previous posts, stress can seriously affect your oral health. For trans patients, these stress-related oral health concerns become a critical part of care. Trans individuals report high stress levels in their daily life and are at increased risks for depression and anxiety.
For any individual who is under a great deal of stress or suffers from anxiety, clenching and grinding create a slew of dental problems. Additionally, some of the most common medications to treat anxiety and depression trigger grinding and clenching.
Aside from a multi-faceted approach to treating stress-related oral health concerns, your dental team here at LBD commits to making dental treatment one less stressor in your life. We offer a spa-like atmosphere and protocols for managing dental anxiety, as well as a team full of allies. It’s one small way we stay Orlando Strong and support our LGBTQIAA+ patients and neighbors!
