Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Intersectionality in Oral Health Care.

Abstract

This study uses an intersectional framework to examine how race, gender, and sexual orientation jointly influence access to dental care in the United States. Leveraging cross-sectional data from the All of Us Research Program, we applied multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy to assess disparities in dental service use and affordability across 30 intersectional strata. Results showed substantial inequities, with racialized, gender-diverse, and sexual minority individuals facing greater barriers to care. While most disparities were explained by additive effects, the findings highlight the importance of intersectionality in revealing how layered disadvantage shapes oral health outcomes. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of oral health equity by integrating gender and sexual orientation into intersectional health research.