detecting domestic abuse in dentistry?

[organichemistry]

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just curious... i've heard that in a dental exam, it is frequently possible to tell if a patient has endured domestic abuse? if this is true, how would you go about "diagnosing" this?

also, what other things do dentists do that the general public probably has no idea they are capable of doing?

 

[Frank Cavitation]

I think there may be some instances when a patient has a tooth fracture/trauma that is inconsistent with the reported cause. And in the case of sexual abuse there may be soft tissue injury i.e. palatal petechiae. I believe dentists have the responsibility to report child abuse, not sure if we can call the cops for suspected abuse of an adult...?

 

[kilani]

just curious... i've heard that in a dental exam, it is frequently possible to tell if a patient has endured domestic abuse? if this is true, how would you go about "diagnosing" this?

also, what other things do dentists do that the general public probably has no idea they are capable of doing?

I don't think you can reach a "diagnosis" based on solely on a dental exam, but you may be able to discover certain alarming signs like fractured teeth or jaw bone without explanation, lacerations or bruises in labial frenum, lips, or things like that, again without explanation

 

[Bickle]

lots of stuff

tooth/root fractures (usually centrals)
abnormal head and neck bruises
bruises to ears (kids get their ears pulled alot)
palatal bruises
abnormal/withdrawn behavior (sexually abused people tend to get uneasy in a horizontal position)


as for reporting these cases, by law you are obligated to report cases of child abuse, NO MATTER WHAT

if the victim is an adult you should bring it up with them, stress the importance of this being a criminal act and they do not have to put up with it, and report it if the adult allows you to do so.

i'm not sure what the laws are if the adult is mentally impaired... most likely the same as in child abuse

 

[ca_dreamin']

An article just came out in the newest issue of JADA -- the May 2006 issue. When you have a chance, give it a quick read and you will probably find it pretty interesting. It is the cover story: "The dentist's role in responding to signs of domestic violence."

Hope this will help you find the info you need.

We actually covered this in lecture during our 2nd (or early 3rd?) year in dental school too. Do other schools also cover this topic? We did not have an entire class devoted to it, but rather a guest speaker for one of our lectures.

 

[Bickle]

i forgot to mention, if a dentist reports a suspected case of child abuse, and later on it was legally proven that no abuse took place, that dentist is not held liable and cannot be sued by the parent.

i guess its better to err on the side of caution and report any and all suspected child abuse cases. how that afftects your relationship with guardians later proved to be innocent of abuse is another story....

 

[aphistis]

i forgot to mention, if a dentist reports a suspected case of child abuse, and later on it was legally proven that no abuse took place, that dentist is not held liable and cannot be sued by the parent.

i guess its better to err on the side of caution and report any and all suspected child abuse cases. how that afftects your relationship with guardians later proved to be innocent of abuse is another story....

This is similar to Indiana, but the statutes will vary from state to state. Wherever you end up practicing, this is another great example of why you need to state on top of your location's pertinent practice laws.