- FORENSIC DENTISTRY
Child abuse and neglect: understanding the role of a pediatric dentist
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25241/stomaeduj.2020.7(4).art.7
Abstract
Background Child Abuse & Neglect is a worldwide social and public health problem, which has a multitude of short- and long-term effects on children.
Objective Pediatric dentists are often the ones who, after a pediatrician, come to identify a child abuse victim, so this article addresses the importance of the pediatric dentist in identifying the oral health issues that can be associated with child abuse victims.
Data sources Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar were databases researched for peer review articles in indexed journals.
Method Literature search was conducted and articles were selected according to the data provided regarding child abuse and neglect and the relevant data were summarized.
Result Some medical providers may receive less education pertaining to oral health and dental injury that are related to abuse or neglect as readily as they detect those involving other areas of the body.
Conclusion Pediatric dentists are encouraged to collaborate with pediatricians to increase the prevention and detection of child abuse and neglect in children.
Keywords
Child Maltreatment, Child Mistreatment, Child Neglect, Dentists, Pediatric Dentists.