How dentistry succeeds in preventing family violence.

Dentistry has a long history of dealing with one form of family violence: child maltreatment. However, a recent national survey shows that dentists are not living up to their legal and ethical obligations to report suspected child victims. Dentistry also needs to be equally concerned with adult victims of family violence--victims of spousal abuse and elder abuse and neglect. Successful child abuse prevention programs need to expand to cover all types of family violence. All health care professionals need education and awareness training to help develop the necessary attitudes to deal with victims of family violence.