Breaking the silence: the role of forensic dentistry in the identification and prevention of violence against women: a systematic review

Abstract

Violence against women is an urgent public health and human rights issue. This study evaluated the effectiveness of forensic dentistry in diagnosing, preventing and comprehensively addressing domestic violence, identifying challenges and proposing improvements. A search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted until December 2024 selecting 9 studies including 949 female victims and 1,274 professionals. The most frequent injuries were maxillofacial and dental fractures, and the aggressors were mainly intimate partners. There was evidence of insufficient training of professionals, with moderate knowledge of physical signs and limited knowledge of behavioural indicators. The main barriers were fear of intervention, lack of protocols and the presence of the aggressor during care. Forensic dentistry plays a crucial role, but it is essential to improve professional training and incorporate specific protocols in clinical practice.