Openness Encourages Disclosure

Objectivity and a nonjudgmental attitude are essential when broaching the topic of family violence. As stated by Short, Tiedemann, and Rose (1997), “Perhaps the most important information that a dental professional can give a victim is the fact that no one deserves to be abused and that perpetrators are responsible for their own actions . . . . The simple act of assuring people in this situation that they are not to blame for the violence will often open the door for further intervention and action.”