My name is Jayson Fricke and this is my story. Four years ago, I started working for Delta Dental of Washington as a recruiting coordinator. But I have been transitioning from female to male (FTM) over the past 5 years. (Since Jan 28th, 2018) Growing up, oral healthcare was not a huge priority in my family. That has led to me having oral health issues as an adult which were exacerbated during my gender-affirming transition process.
Oral health, overall health, and the effects of gender-affirming care
Going through hormone therapy, it’s important that I keep my body healthy and overall physical health starts with oral health. Why? Many individuals in the Trans Community suffer from discrimination, gender dysphoria, stress, depression, anxiety, family rejection, and abuse. As a result, oral healthcare neglect, dental fear, and treatment abandonment are quite common within our community.
Gender dysphoria alone can lead to harmful eating disorders, that have long-term effects on your oral health. Eating too much or too little from stress, for example, can cause enamel erosion and increased caries – another word for cavities. There are several different options when it comes to gender-affirming treatments and all the options have their own risks on overall health.
Personally, I have had to particularly focus on healthy eating habits, implementing exercise, and choosing the right course of gender-affirming treatment that fits my health needs.
The challenges of getting good oral healthcare as a trans person
Oral healthcare plays a huge factor in overall health, and many of us don’t think about how our oral health is connected to the rest of our body. Many people in our community feel overlooked or isolated by the healthcare community and dental care is the first thing to be ignored.
When I was looking for an oral healthcare provider, I had to take into consideration: Will I be judged? Am I going to be discriminated against by my dentist and staff? You shouldn’t have to worry about these questions when you are finding a new provider, but I did and many other trans people do.
How to find the care you need
I found my oral health provider from a family referral, who has had dental trauma experiences in the past. Filling out the documents for my new provider the first time, I felt fear and had a list of questions that ran through my mind, but I found myself impressed with the staff and my dentist.
Use referrals and check in with yourself to see if you trust and are comfortable with your provider.
When I provided my dentist with the information of testosterone medication to the dentist, he looked at me and said, “that’s awesome” and gave me a pat on the shoulder. In that moment, I knew that I had found the perfect provider for me, and I wish that all individuals could receive the same appreciation as I had received.
What I wish I knew about oral health earlier
I wish that I had taken the time to research oral health its effects on overall health. If I knew how much stress and gender dysphoria can affect oral health, I could have had a healthier mouth and a healthier body earlier in my transition. I now see my oral health providers and health providers on a regular basis to continue my transition journey.
