Violência doméstica contra a mulher e a conduta do cirurgião-dentista

Abstract

Introduction: Domestic violence against women is a complex and problematic phenomenon that occurs within the family or home context, where the victim is a woman and the aggressor has or had some affective or family bond with her. Objective: This is a narrative review, which aimed to know what the specialized health literature, from 2019 to 2023, brings about the conduct of the dentist in cases of violence against women. Methodology: The article search was conducted in the databases of the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Google Scholar, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and PubMed. Out of 102 articles found, after reading the abstracts, 17 fit the inclusion criteria and were analyzed according to the precepts of thematic analysis. Results: Violence against women increases in modernity and has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The predominant injuries are in the face region, in soft and intra-oral tissues. The impact extends beyond physical harm, affecting the mental health and self-esteem of the victims, particularly when facial injuries compromise aesthetics and, consequently, social interactions due to self-esteem issues. Conclusion: The dental surgeon plays a crucial role in providing care to victims of domestic violence, but often lacks awareness or faces challenges in identifying and reporting cases, necessitating increased efforts in knowledge and skill development for secure execution of mandatory reporting upon identification and evaluation of suspected cases.