Jacqueline Miller, founder and president of Healthy Actions Intervening Responsibly (H.A.I.R.), delivered a compelling presentation at the 6th Annual National Mobile Teledentistry Conference in Portland, Oregon. Miller’s address emphasized the critical, yet often overlooked, connections between domestic violence and dental injuries, providing essential education to dental and healthcare professionals.
During her speech, Miller highlighted disturbing statistics on dental trauma resulting from domestic violence, citing research indicating that nearly 37.3% of domestic violence survivors report tooth loss directly linked to abuse. Moreover, up to 59.1% have suffered traumatic dental injuries, including fractures and tooth avulsions, significantly impacting their oral health and overall well-being.
“Each time professionals in healthcare and dental practices observe injuries like ligature marks, abrasions, or signs of difficulty swallowing, there’s a high likelihood they’re witnessing indicators of domestic abuse,” Miller explained. “Recognizing these signs early and effectively responding is vital for saving lives and supporting the holistic recovery of survivors.”
Miller praised the event organizers, Sonya and Melissa, for the informative and engaging conference. “I commend Sonya and Melissa for creating an exceptional platform to educate and empower professionals in addressing these critical issues. These annual events are essential to building awareness and strengthening the capabilities of healthcare providers to identify and intervene responsibly.”
An advocate with over 30 years of experience in domestic violence prevention, empowerment, and healthcare training, Miller underscored the significance of collaborative approaches in addressing domestic violence. She encouraged attendees to actively engage in proactive screenings and incorporate tailored, patient-centered strategies into their practices, reinforcing community-wide initiatives to combat domestic violence.
Addressing the role of emerging technologies, Miller cautioned against reliance solely on artificial intelligence tools for risk assessments in domestic violence situations. She noted that these technologies, while promising, can sometimes yield critical oversights. Instead, Miller urged healthcare professionals to continue emphasizing personal judgment, comprehensive training, and awareness in identifying and responding to abuse.
The event featured a transformative video testimony from Shonda, a survivor whose dental injuries were successfully treated thanks to initiatives recognized at the Denobi Awards. Miller concluded her presentation with an inspiring call to action, reminding professionals of the profound impact their work has in restoring dignity, self-esteem, and financial independence to survivors like Shonda.
For more information and to view the survivor transformation video, please visit: https://healthyactionsinterveningresponsibly.com/ and Denobi Awards Domestic Violence Survivor and Dental Transformation.
About Healthy Actions Intervening Responsibly (H.A.I.R.)
Healthy Actions Intervening Responsibly (H.A.I.R.), founded by Jacqueline Miller in 2018, offers specialized training on understanding adultification, domestic violence, trauma-informed practices, and adverse childhood experiences. H.A.I.R. has trained over 5,000 international professionals, dedicated to improving outcomes and fostering safe, supportive environments for impacted children and families.
Media ContactCompany Name: Healthy Actions Intervening Responsibly (H.A.I.R.)Contact Person: Jacqueline MillerEmail: Send EmailPhone: 310-467-3451Country: United StatesWebsite: healthyactionsinterveningresponsibly.com
