Sammanfattning
Intimate partner violence is classified as a public health issue by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dentists are in a good position to detect and help patients who are exposed to intimate partner violence. In dental care, symptoms and signs of violence may appear as physical damage but also with different psychosomatic disorders. The professional imperative of dental care is to treat and prevent oral disease, but they should also have knowledge of how violence may affect both general and oral health. Dental care staff should, when they suspect violence as causative of symptoms and injuries, ask the patient about violence and refer to for example, the social services. Questions about violence should be asked in a professional manner. The dental records may be incorporated as part of evidence if the victim chooses to report to the police, and therefore, it is of utmost importance to always document carefully. All children living with violence at home are maltreated and are at risk of being physically abused themselves. All suspicions of intimate partner violence disclosed by an adult should be referred to the social service. In case of doubt, call the social services or the police for consultation.