title: Orofacial considerations for pediatric, adult, and elderly victims of abuse.
abstract: Health care providers must take the time to educate themselves about domestic violence, its signs and symptoms, and the proper care of victims of child, spouse, or elder abuse. It is not enough to treat the immediate injuries without offering necessary and appropriate intervention on behalf of the victim. No one deserves to be beaten, sexually abused, or emotionally mistreated. If abuse is suspected, report it to the proper authorities. By focusing attention on this major health problem, physicians can provide a leadership role in using health care response to reduce the incidence of abuse and, ultimately, to save lives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bouquot
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Unkel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017579:Domestic Violence; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008875:Middle Aged; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*