Researchers at the University of Kentucky in the US say that with proper training, dental professionals have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in detecting and reporting violence against women. Dentists and dental hygienists may be the first or only health care professional to treat a domestic violence victim. The research team have examined the training needs of dental professionals and created practical curricular materials to help them respond appropriately.

Results of a survey to Kentucky dentists revealed that few have had training in recognition of violence against women, and more than half said that they needed more training in identification and management of domestic violence victims. Collective results indicated that the majority of dentists do not screen for or refer patients who are victims of domestic violence. However, the dentists expressed an interest in and commitment to increased training to improve their ability to respond.