Patterns of maxillofacial and dental trauma among LGBTQIA+ individuals exposed to interpersonal violence: a scoping review

Abstract Background Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other (LGBTQIA+) individuals is a pervasive social and public health issue, often resulting in physical and psychological harm. However, there is a paucity of evidence on this topic, particularly regarding maxillofacial and dental injuries. Therefore, this review aimed to map and synthesize available evidence on maxillofacial and dental trauma among LGBTQIA+ individuals exposed to interpersonal violence, identifying injury patterns, victim profiles, perpetrator characteristics, contexts of violence, and associated psychosocial consequences. Methods A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Electronic searches were performed in EMBASE, LILACS/CUMED, MedLine (via PubMed), SciELO, and Scopus, complemented by gray literature searches via Google Scholar and ProQuest. Sources of evidence were included when reporting primary data on maxillofacial or dental trauma in LGBTQIA+ victims of violence. Data were charted and synthesized narratively, with descriptive statistics for quantitative outcomes. Results The initial search yielded 5,688 records, of which four sources of evidence were included after screening and full-text assessment. Violence was predominantly male-perpetrated and occurred in both private and public settings. Maxillofacial and dental injuries ranged from minor fractures and soft tissue trauma to severe craniofacial injuries and fatalities. Psychological sequelae, including anxiety and fear of recurrence, were frequently reported. Firearms were the most common instruments of aggression, followed by bladed and blunt objects. Perpetrators included strangers, intimate partners, family members, and authority figures, with homophobic and transphobic motivations often documented. Conclusions Violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals is multifactorial and results in substantial physical and psychological harm, including maxillofacial and dental injuries. Although evidence remains limited, the available findings highlight an urgent need for targeted public health strategies to prevent violence and mitigate its consequences among LGBTQIA+ individuals. Trial registration Open Science Framework (OSF), registration number https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/G9P5F .