More than 41 million people will experience some type of domestic violence in their lifetime, according to researchers who concluded that dentists could play a role in identifying assault.
Researchers from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Midwestern University found that there are certain oral biomarkers that could help dentists identify domestic violence victims.
Those markers include fractures, breaks and chips in the teeth. The article in the "Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma" found that dentists receive little to no training when it comes to identifying signs of domestic violence.
In a statement, the study’s lead author, Timothy Ellis, a Midwestern University dental student, said next steps could involve collecting data from dentists to start documenting those oral dental markers.
