Dentists are acting as "first responders" to domestic violence victims, as experts call for increased training to help them support women in crisis.
Women with facial injuries and broken teeth are often more likely to seek dental treatment than see a doctor, placing dentists at the frontline of early intervention.
Dr Manjula O'Connor, who has been training dental graduates to recognise the signs of domestic violence, said they can play a critical role in helping women escape abusive relationships.
"Seventy-five per cent of injuries in these situations happen to the head, face and neck so often if they are in the early stages of working out what to do with their relationship the dentist is the place where women can go without disclosing or feeling any stigma or shame," she said.
"If a patient walks in with a tooth that is loose or with an injury to the face that is healing or they have bruising a dentist can ask, 'how did you get this injury, is everything OK at home?' "
Dr O'Connor, director of the Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health, called for increased training for dentists to respond to family violence, when she delivered a keynote address last week at Where the Mind Meets the Mouth, a conference looking at the social impacts of oral health.
She said research showed that women trying to escape a violent partner often wanted to be asked if they needed help and dentists should not fear they would offend their patients by reaching out.
"Patients in a confidential setting where they find the health professional is compassionate and empathetic will generally respond to that quite well. Dentists are not required to be therapists but we need to raise their index of suspicion and awareness that there will be women who are coming to them who are victims of domestic violence and they need to be referred to the right places," Dr O'Connor said.
Fiona McCormack, chief executive of Domestic Violence Victoria, welcomed increased training for dentists and said testimonies from women giving evidence at the Royal Commission into family violence had revealed that health professionals were often the first to detect problems.
"We need training across the board to consistent standards for all health practitioners. This is about the broader community playing a role in keeping women and children safe. Part of the abuse many women experience is they're told 'this is your fault,' and then they can hear those messages reiterated by the community when we make excuses or act suspiciously around women's claims of violence," she said.
"They are often nervous about whether they actually are in an abusive relationship or how they will be responded to if they ask for help. So asking the question, 'are you safe, are you OK', can make an enormous difference."
Robert Boyd-Boland, chief executive of the Australian Dental Association said: "We would welcome specialised training for dentist students and support for dentists to recognise and assist patients who present with trauma that could be related to domestic violence."
jstark@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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