Abstract
Introduction
Health-related stigma can limit access to care, impair adherence to treatment, and negatively impact mental health and quality-of-life. Oral health stigma, defined as stigma arising from oral conditions that diverge from sociocultural norms, operates through labelling, stereotyping, othering, and exclusion. Oral health stigma can lead to shame, diminished self-confidence, and avoidance of dental care, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poor oral health and reinforcing internalised and anticipated stigma. While previous research has explored the social implications of oral appearance, little is known about the broader concept of oral health stigma or strategies to mitigate it.
Methods
This scoping review adopted Levac et al.’s six-stage framework. The review utilised data from qualitative studies to explore lived experiences of oral health stigma and consider ways to mitigate it. Patient and public involvement (PPI) informed the development of the research question, search strategy, and interpretation of findings.
Results
Seventy-two qualitative studies were included, comprising 2,455 participants. Themes included stigma associated with physical appearance and attractiveness, judgement, labelling, and stereotyping. Consequences included low self-esteem, social exclusion, impacts to care seeking behaviours, and efforts to conceal oral appearance. Participants highlighted the transformative value of dental care and described coping strategies to build resilience. Other proposed solutions included fostering social connection and implementing trauma-informed, non-judgemental dental care.
Conclusion
Oral health stigma has significant social and psychological consequences and impacts on care-seeking behaviours. Addressing it requires targeted interventions at multiple levels, including individual, community, professionals and wider system / policy.
Health-related stigma can limit access to care, impair adherence to treatment, and negatively impact mental health and quality-of-life. Oral health stigma, defined as stigma arising from oral conditions that diverge from sociocultural norms, operates through labelling, stereotyping, othering, and exclusion. Oral health stigma can lead to shame, diminished self-confidence, and avoidance of dental care, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poor oral health and reinforcing internalised and anticipated stigma. While previous research has explored the social implications of oral appearance, little is known about the broader concept of oral health stigma or strategies to mitigate it.
Methods
This scoping review adopted Levac et al.’s six-stage framework. The review utilised data from qualitative studies to explore lived experiences of oral health stigma and consider ways to mitigate it. Patient and public involvement (PPI) informed the development of the research question, search strategy, and interpretation of findings.
Results
Seventy-two qualitative studies were included, comprising 2,455 participants. Themes included stigma associated with physical appearance and attractiveness, judgement, labelling, and stereotyping. Consequences included low self-esteem, social exclusion, impacts to care seeking behaviours, and efforts to conceal oral appearance. Participants highlighted the transformative value of dental care and described coping strategies to build resilience. Other proposed solutions included fostering social connection and implementing trauma-informed, non-judgemental dental care.
Conclusion
Oral health stigma has significant social and psychological consequences and impacts on care-seeking behaviours. Addressing it requires targeted interventions at multiple levels, including individual, community, professionals and wider system / policy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | BMC Oral Health |
| Early online date | 17 Dec 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 17 Dec 2025 |
Keywords
- oral health
- stigma
- shame
- dentistry
