Intimate Partner Violence and Elder Maltreatment: Implications for the Dental Professional

This continuing education course will provide information on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Elder Maltreatment (EM), describe their victims and perpetrators, and outline the dental professionals’ responsibilities to recognize, report, treat, and prevent such cases.

Dental Students: This is part one of a two-part continuing education series. The second part is Dr. Stephen Jessee’s “Child Abuse and Neglect” course. For students taking these courses, both courses should be completed. As healthcare providers, you are obligated to understand these topics and report, as appropriate.

IPV and EM are widespread problems that permeate all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic segments of our society. IPV is the leading health risk to women in the country and thousands of elderly are annually maltreated/exploited/neglected by family members. Though all health professionals are legally mandated to report suspected cases of child maltreatment to the proper authorities, consistent with the laws of the jurisdiction in which they practice, medical reporting of cases of IPV and EM may vary by state. If in doubt, ask; to fail to report when mandated could lead to loss of license. Unfortunately, dentists, as a group, have been fairly inactive participants in recognizing and reporting IPV and EM when compared to other health professionals. Many visual and behavioral symptoms of IPV and EM are easily discernable to dentists who are well-informed of and alert to these problems. This continuing education course will provide information on IPV and EM; describe their victims and perpetrators; and outline dentists’ responsibilities to recognize, report, treat, and prevent such cases.