LESÕES OROFACIAIS DECORRENTES DA VIOLÊNCIA CONTRA A MULHER: O dever ético-legal do cirurgião-dentista

Abstract

Violence against women is a public health issue with significant repercussions on oral health due to orofacial injuries resulting from physical assaults. Dentists, when treating victims of such violence, play a crucial role not only in managing injuries but also in the early identification of these cases, proper documentation of clinical findings, mandatory reporting, and referral to victim support networks. In this context, the aim of the present study is to identify the main orofacial injuries resulting from violence against women and to highlight the professional responsibility of dentists in the identification, diagnosis, management, and reporting of such cases. To this end, the literature was reviewed regarding the dental implications of violence against women, focusing on orofacial injuries identified by Brazil's Forensic Medicine Institutes and their ethical and legal aspects. In the studies analyzed, a total of 7022 women victims of aggression were recorded, most of whom were young women aged between 18 and 39 years, identified predominantly as mixed race, and assaulted by their partners, husbands, or boyfriends. The most frequently used instrument was a blunt object, which explains the high prevalence of contusions, abrasions, ecchymoses, and edema, most of which were classified as mild injuries. The most affected regions were the orbital area, face, lips, frontal region, as well as oral mucosa. Among the facial thirds, the middle third was the most commonly affected. Thus, it becomes evident the crucial role of the dentist in recognizing and treating orofacial injuries resulting from violence against women, as well as the importance of possessing the necessary knowledge to report and document such cases, thereby contributing to the prevention and elimination of recurrent acts of violence.