The dental professional's role in stopping domestic violence and abuse

Whether you're a football fan or not, the incident of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee that was caught on camera has once again brought the topic of domestic violence and abuse into the spotlight.

Of course, the problem has never gone away. A recent article in the Boston Globe said that an estimated 1 in 6 women who have been victimized by domestic violence experienced being hit with a fist, and 29.7 percent said they'd been slapped, pushed, or shoved.

Think about some of these other statistics...

1 in every 6 women in the United States has been stalked during her lifetime.

1 in every 5 women in the United States has been raped.

As dental professionals, you can be the person who notices some of the signs of domestic abuse and can help the victim. Is it easy? No. Is it a tough conversation? Yes. Is it your moral and/or ethical responsibility?

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Anastasia Turchetta, RDH, has educated you on e-cigarettes, the link between oral sex and oral cancer, assisting with stopping migraines, and many other topics. Today, in the video below, she tackles the tough topic of domestic abuse and violence and your role in helping a victim get the help she (or he) needs.