By Maeve Bannister

Dentists who notice their patients may be experiencing domestic violence will have better guidance on how best to respond as advocates say the profession is uniquely positioned to identify abuse.

A first-of-its-kind legal guide has been released as part of domestic violence prevention month after a collaboration between James Cook University (JCU), North Queensland Women’s Legal Service (NQWL) and domestic violence specialists Be Conscious.

Many health professionals say they have limited formal training in recognising and responding to patient disclosures of violence.

Dentists are often among the first health professionals to see possible signs because they treat areas commonly impacted by abuse, NQWL representative Ashleigh Lawrence said.

“The guide recognises dentists as important contributors to domestic and family violence identification and response,” she said.

“It strengthens their role within multidisciplinary, trauma-informed systems and supports safer, more informed outcomes for patients experiencing violence.”

Many dentists can feel unsure about the steps they should take if they notice possible signs of abuse, JCU associate professor Felicity Croker said.

“There was a clear need for a dentistry-specific legal guidance to support practitioners responding to patients experiencing violence,” she said.

“This guide … is the product of over a decade of our collaborative experience with domestic training for dental students and practitioners across the sector.”

The guide intends to provide a clear legal lens and help dentists balance patient autonomy and safety with their professional obligations.

“It helps dentists understand that legal responses to domestic and family violence should support victim-survivors without undermining their agency,” co-author and social worker Ann Carrington said.