CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 3

9 Issue 3 | 2018 | CDA at W ork I attended a panel discussion last year on family violence, hosted by the Alberta Dental Association & College (ADA&C). It was the first time I had seen this issue discussed at a dental conference and I was interested to learn more about what role dentists can play in addressing this social problem. There were quite a few people in the audience and it was clear that they wanted to share their experiences and learn more about how dentists and the dental team can help. It was an eye-opening experience for me and I applaud the ADA&C for raising awareness about this issue. The take-home message was that all of us in society—dentists included—can help victims of abuse by recognizing the signs, responding appropriately to them and referring to local support centres, or reporting cases of suspected abuse when a child is involved. I also learned that dentists, in particular, are in a unique position to help our patients take a first step towards positive change, because we can be one of the first health professionals to recognize signs of abuse. Two things stuck with me: the fact that the majority of injuries related to domestic violence are found in the head and neck area, and the tendency for victims of family violence to avoid places where they might “be discovered.” Although some might avoid a physician’s office for this reason, they will often keep their dental appointments. The opportunity is there for dentists to have a role in early detection and intervention. However, some dentists may be reluctant to get involved for a variety of reasons, including a lack of training or resources. Broaching the issue with a patient you suspect may be a victim of family violence can be challenging if it’s not part of your usual routine. But we need to focus on the bigger picture as members of society and push beyond our comfort zone to provide our patients and their families with a path to safety. That’s why CDA and other invited organizations are working with the federally funded VEGA project (Violence Evidence Guidance Action). VEGA’s goals are to develop guidance, protocols and tools to prepare health and social services providers to respond appropriately to victims of family violence. Representatives from VEGA, along with other individuals committed to helping victims of family violence, presented at this year’s Canadian Oral Health Roundtable (COHR), an annual gathering hosted by CDA that explores innovative ways of improving the oral health of Canadians. But COHR is more than just a meeting of dentistry organizations. COHR participants include leaders from a variety of professions, both inside and outside of dentistry, that share at least one common interest: making a positive difference in the lives of Canadians. To me, last year’s ADA&C meeting and this year’s COHR meeting demonstrate the important role of dental associations—at the national, provincial/territorial and local levels—in filling knowledge gaps on issues affecting families, communities and society. Engagement by the dental profession can make a difference. Sometimes it’s not about new clinical techniques or making your practice more efficient; it’s about being part of a caring profession that supports families through challenging times. From the President Michel (Mitch) Taillon, dmd president@cda-adc.ca Family Violence Dentists can support victims For information on how to report suspected child maltreatment, see: cwrp.ca/help