Page 35 - Dentistry Magazine 2022

Callie Hanson, MDT ’22, focused her capstone project on students’ knowledge of hormone therapy medications and their impact on oral health, students’ comfort and attitudes discussing hormone therapy, and their percep- tions of formal training to prepare them to provide oral health care for transgender individuals.
Hanson’s idea for this project came from her own expe- rience caring for a transgender patient. “I found out that they had been delaying care due to fear of discrimination within the healthcare setting,” she said.
Hanson surveyed School of Dentistry students, find-
ing that while about 64% strongly agreed that they felt comfortable treating transgender patients, 41% strongly disagreed that they had the knowledge to provide educa- tion on oral manifestations of hormonal and non-hormonal treatments. They also didn’t feel they had learned about hormonal impacts in the School of Dentistry courses.
“I am hoping that the results of this study pro- vide insightful information to guide future dental curricula,” Hanson said. “I also hope the study enhances diversity, equity and inclusion by preparing our students to properly care for transgender patients.”
Hanson is currently working post-grad-
uation with her faculty advisors Arnett,
Reibel and Christianson to modify her cap- stone project into a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Looking to a better future
Though recent research undertaken by dentistry profes- sionals shows gaps in knowledge and understanding of oral health care for transgender patients, it also shows great room for growth and improvement—and the School of Dentistry community is eager to put those lessons into practice.
“Transgender patients often delay seeking healthcare due to fear of discrimination,” Hanson reflected. “Having better knowledge of the individual you are working with allows for better patient care and more trust from the patient.” She hopes her study, and others in the works, will prepare providers to feel “comfortable and compe- tent when treating transgender individuals.”
And School of Dentistry educators agree.
“As oral health professionals, we are in the business of preventative care,” Reibel
explained. “Identifying the treatments patients may undergo, and how those impact oral health, is important. And
we want to create an environment for proper communication and trust with patients. Patients need to be heard and
valued by their providers. We have to understand those implications as we try
to foster relationships with our patients.”
Research 35
Callie Hanson, MDT ’22
OTHER NOTABLE RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Enhancing oral health literacy. Priscilla Flynn, DrPH, MPH, RDH, has made it her professional mission to educate the public on oral health and combat inequities. “Only about one third of Americans have what we consider ‘adequate’ oral health literacy, and oral health literacy is the strongest predictor of oral health outcomes,” she ex- plained. Flynn has studied providers’ understanding of oral health literacy and, more recently, the social determinants of health and oral health literacy among Somali refugees. “Oral health literacy is not an easy fix, like learning to read,” she explained, “but there is a strong association between the overall level of oral health literacy and outcomes, in- cluding cavities and gum disease.”
Encouraging questions. Founded decades ago, the
Oral Health Clinical Research Center (OHCRC) enhances oral health by fostering research and encouraging its application in real-world settings. Eric Sciffman, DDS, MS, revitalized the center when he became director of clinical research in 2019. As leader, he encourages young faculty members by supporting them through every step of the research process, from formulating a research question to writing and submitting a proposal and providing personnel and space. “We’re open for business,” Schiffman said. “We’re here to support clinical research in the school,
and to help faculty start or continue a successful
research career.”
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