# Impact of structural and interpersonal racism on oral health and dental services

## TL;DR

This study shows that racism affects oral health and access to dental services through structural and interpersonal pathways, particularly impacting Black and brown individuals.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a novel analysis of how structural and interpersonal racism specifically influence oral health outcomes and dental service access among racialized groups.

## Key findings

- Black and brown individuals had higher prevalence of negative self-perception, tooth loss, and poor access to dental services.
- Racial discrimination was strongly associated with lack of access and negative evaluations of dental care.
- Living in neighborhoods with fewer social and physical problems reduced negative oral health outcomes and poor access to services.

## Abstract

To analyze the role of racism in oral health and access to dental services, considering two impact pathways: structural racism and interpersonal racism.

A cross-sectional study with 686 undergraduate students, which analyzed two categories of outcomes: those related to oral health (self-perception, oral health impairment, and tooth loss) and those related to access to/perception of the quality of dental services (access to services, recent use, and evaluation of care). Exposures were race/color, racial discrimination, and characterization of the neighborhood environment. Prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance, with adjustments guided by directed acyclic diagrams.

Black and brown people had a higher prevalence of negative self-perception (black: PR = 1.56; 95%CI 1.14–2.13; brown: PR = 1.53; 95%CI 1.14–2.05), tooth loss (black: PR = 1.99; 95%CI 1.33–2.97), lack of access to dental services (black: PR = 3.08; 95%CI 1.06–8.95; brown: PR = 3.78; 95%CI 1.49–9.59), and negative evaluation of care (black: PR = 1.63; 95%CI 1.08–2.45; brown: PR = 1.64; 95%CI 1.12–2.39). Racial discrimination was associated with lack of access (PR = 4.34; 95%CI 1.45–12.95), recent non-use of services (PR = 1.74; 95%CI 1.31–2.31) and negative evaluation of care (PR = 1.51; 95%CI 1.01–2.25). And living in neighborhoods with fewer physical and social problems was associated with a lower prevalence of negative self-perception (PR = 0.70; 95%CI 0.54–0.90), compromised oral health (PR = 0.87; 95%CI 0.76–0.99), lack of access (PR = 0.42; 95%CI 0.18–0.98), and negative evaluation of care (PR = 0.56; 95%CI 0.40–0.79).

The findings show that racism impacts oral health through structural and interpersonal channels and highlight the urgency of broad and effective strategies to reduce the inequities affecting racialized groups.

Analisar o papel do racismo na saúde bucal e no acesso a serviços odontológicos, considerando duas vias de impacto: o racismo estrutural e o racismo interpessoal.

Estudo transversal com 686 estudantes de graduação, que analisou duas categorias de desfechos: os relacionados à saúde bucal (autopercepção, comprometimento da saúde bucal e perda dentária) e os relacionados ao acesso/à percepção da qualidade de serviços odontológicos (acesso aos serviços, uso recente e avaliação do atendimento). As exposições foram raça/cor, discriminação racial e caracterização do ambiente de vizinhança. Foram estimadas as razões de prevalência através de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, com ajustes orientados por diagramas acíclicos direcionados.

Pretos e pardos apresentaram maior prevalência de autopercepção negativa (pretos: RP = 1,56; IC95% 1,14–2,13; pardos: RP = 1,53; IC95% 1,14–2,05), perda dentária (pretos: RP = 1,99; IC95% 1,33–2,97), falta de acesso aos serviços odontológicos (pretos: RP = 3,08; IC95% 1,06–8,95; pardos: RP = 3,78; IC95% 1,49–9,59) e avaliação negativa do atendimento (pretos: RP = 1,63; IC95% 1,08–2,45; pardos: RP = 1,64; IC95% 1,12–2,39). Discriminação racial se associou à falta de acesso (RP = 4,34; IC95% 1,45–12,95), ao não uso recente dos serviços (RP = 1,74; IC95% 1,31–2,31) e à avaliação negativa do atendimento (RP = 1,51; IC95% 1,01–2,25). E residir em vizinhanças com menos problemas físicos e sociais foi associado à menor prevalência de autopercepção negativa (RP = 0,70; IC95% 0,54–0,90), ao comprometimento da saúde bucal (RP = 0,87; IC95% 0,76–0,99), à falta de acesso (RP = 0,42; IC95% 0,18–0,98) e à avaliação negativa do atendimento (RP = 0,56; IC95% 0,40–0,79).

Os achados evidenciaram que o racismo impacta a saúde bucal por vias estruturais e interpessoais e destacam a urgência de estratégias amplas e eficazes para reduzir as iniquidades que afetam os grupos racializados.