Dental News - Paper outlines dentists’ role in identifying domestic violence cases

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 30. April 2019

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TUCSON, Ariz., U.S.: The obligations of dentists in society extend well beyond oral health. Recently, the University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix published an article that brings to light the important role dentists can play in identifying domestic violence victims. According to the authors, the purpose of the paper is to bring dentistry and its subspecialties into the conversation about traumatic brain injury (TBI), specifically in cases of domestic violence.

In the paper, some of the oral biomarkers that could help dentists potentially identify domestic violence victims include fractured or chipped teeth and tears or breaks of the oral tissue that are inconsistent with personal history and, therefore, raise the index of suspicion. Tooth discoloration, blunted roots and pulpal necrosis too may be signs of a previous dental trauma warranting further investigation.

Lead author of the study Timothy Ellis, a student at the Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine—Arizona, said: “In our society, and others around the world, domestic violence is more common than many would suspect. Survivors recount ‘too many times to remember’ that they were abused and blacked out or were struck in the head. Thus, oral and facial trauma may be treated or identified by dentists and dental subspecialists, opening another avenue for patients to gain access to proper care or needed assistance.”

According to the study’s authors, a reported 41.50 million individuals will experience some type of domestic violence during their lifetime, and 20.75 million will sustain a TBI. Of the victims that sustain a TBI, 8.3 million will live with some form of long-term physiological or psychological consequences of the injury.

“This is a societal need and we have to call on all health care providers and mandatory reporters to join the fight,” said Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz, Director of the Translational Neurotrauma Research Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. “This paper is creating additional touch points between victims and the health care delivery system. It is an opportunity for dentists to be early detectors who can refer those individuals for follow-up care.”

The paper, titled “Restoring more than smiles in broken homes: Dental and oral biomarkers of brain injury in domestic violence,” was published online in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma on April 11, 2019, ahead of inclusion in an issue.

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