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.
