Social Program

From Me to You

Evidence-based social dentistry for trans people and key populations in Greater Caracas.

The Problem: Structural Exclusion and Its Consequences for Oral Health

Trans people in Latin America face one of the most documented rates of labor exclusion among all population groups.

94,8%

94.8% of trans people without formal employment in Argentina

World Bank / UNDP

5–23%

Uruguay 23%, Argentina 10%, El Salvador 5% with formal employment

OTD Chile / Fundación SOL

2×

Double unemployment rate in trans vs. cisgender people

IIGHI-CONICET

This exclusion is not limited to initial employment access: reports from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights document that in the formal employment sector, discrimination emerges through humiliating comments, harassment, pressure to conceal gender expression, and direct violence.^[4]

The direct consequence of this exclusion is sustained economic precarity, which in turn generates a cascade of deprivations in access to basic services — among them, oral health.

The specific gap in oral health: scientific evidence

The relationship between structural exclusion and deterioration of oral health in trans people is documented in international scientific literature. Studies on healthcare access for trans people in Latin America report lower satisfaction with oral health and greater perceived dental needs in this population — with self-perception of oral health marked by shame and anxiety relative to cisgender peers.^[5]

Trans people face a higher risk of oral health deterioration driven by lack of awareness, frequent discrimination, and harassment — which in turn elevate stress levels and erode mental health. Clinically, cross-sectional studies report that dental and periodontal health indicators in trans groups are worse than in control groups, with higher prevalence of oral lesions and risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use.^[7,8]

The phenomenon of misgendering in dental settings aggravates this situation: one third of trans and gender non-binary people surveyed reported being misgendered in the dental environment — that is, being addressed with incorrect name or pronouns — contributing to avoidance of dental care and oral health disparities associated with gender identity.^[6]

The discrimination faced by the trans population is significant, widespread, and comes from multiple sources, including social bias and family rejection. As a consequence, lack of education and unemployment are common in this marginalized group, contributing to poverty and homelessness, with direct and indirect effects on oral health.^[8,9]

The response: De Mí para Ti as an evidence-based intervention

In response to this diagnosis, the De Mí para Ti program operates on three structural determinants simultaneously:

Economic barrier

Free access to comprehensive dental care for trans people and key populations.

Cultural barrier

Affirmative clinical environment free of misgendering, designed with cultural relevance and absolute respect for gender identity.

Reach barrier

Community expansion model based on peer trust: each beneficiary becomes an access agent for another person in their environment.

This last component responds to solid evidence in community health: the interventions with greatest penetration in historically excluded populations are those disseminated through pre-existing trust networks within the community itself. The program's name — De Mí para Ti (From Me to You) — encapsulates this logic: each beneficiary becomes an access agent for another person in their environment, replicating the community expansion model used in the most successful public health interventions for key populations globally.

Program Components

Free Dental Care

Preventive and restorative dental procedures at no cost, in a safe, affirmative and stigma-free clinical environment.

Oral Hygiene & Prophylaxis

Distribution of dental hygiene kits, scheduled professional prophylaxis, and personalized education in oral care techniques.

Holistic Self-Care

Community education on the impact of oral health on holistic well-being, nutrition, self-esteem, and prevention of systemic pathologies.

Specialized Referral

Structured referral to specialists for cases requiring more complex care, with follow-up until continuity of care is confirmed.