Alexandria, VA, USA – A Hands-on Workshop aiming to develop strategies and actions to reduce oral health-related stigma was presented at the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA.
Oral health-related stigma has been identified and defined as a unique health stigma that harms people and groups with oral health that differs from the prevailing cultural norms. Health-related stigmas affect individuals by discouraging access to services, impairing adherence to treatment, diminishing mental health and social resources, and impacting quality of life. Social signaling through the media, social networks, advertising, and other sources gives rise to Western cultural ideals of straight white teeth as synonymous with health, wealth, and social status. Even minor irregularities such as mild spacing or normal racial pigmentation remain cause for concern.
Despite the ubiquity of oral health-related stigma in society, there is a paucity of research in the dental literature that explores the concept of oral health stigma and no published literature that explores attempts to destigmatize differences in oral health. An increasing concern is stigma consciously and unconsciously perpetrated by dental health professionals and/or oral health researchers towards patients. This Hands-on Workshop utilized visual images to stimulate discussion and unpack clinicians’ and oral health researchers’ perspectives of oral health-related stigma, used snapshot presentations by expert speakers to share patients’ perceptions of oral health-related stigma, and showcased research that has prioritized listening and learning from patients and people with lived experiences of social exclusion across the globe. The group then worked together in the final segment of the session to identify and co-create strategies and actions to reduce professional and oral health perpetuated oral-health stigma.
Organized by Vanessa Muirhead, Andrea Rodriguez, and Janine Yazdi-Doughty, the Hands-on Workshop, “Co-creating Strategies and Actions to Tackle Oral Health-related Stigma” took place on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 2 p.m. Central Standard Time (UTC-6).
About IADR
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at www.iadr.org.
About AADOCR
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. AADOCR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. AADOCR is the largest division of IADR. Learn more at www.aadocr.org.