Message From the Director

Dental professionals are in a key position to identify neglect and abuse caused by family violence and to intervene on behalf of victimized patients. However, research shows that dental professionals are the least likely of all health care providers to do so.

This bulletin discusses a University of Minnesota training program designed to address the gaps in knowledge about domestic violence that prevent many dentists and dental hygienists from taking action.The program, which can be incorporated into dental schools and continuing education curricula, educates dental professionals about the signs of abuse and neglect and teaches proactive and appropriate intervention.This training has increased the number of dental professionals who screen their patients for family violence and has helped implement proactive intervention policies in dental offices across the country.

Finally, the bulletin underscores the importance of including dental professionals on community teams that respond to family violence issues.These groups play key roles in local training, policy and procedure development, interagency agreements, and communication and collaboration.