Child abuse hidden in plain sight: The dentist obligations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES A publication discussing the need for dentists to possess knowledge to identify the child abuse and dental neglect. MATERIALS AND METHODS In present paper the various aspects of the problem are analyzed, both from a clinical point of view and from a medico-legal one, without neglecting normative standards and the obligations held by each and every health professional. After a brief excursus about how time has been perceived and considered the problem, we analyze the major risk factors and injuries of dental interest. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The more everyone knows and more attention is applied to child patient, bigger the safeguards will are bigger. Moreover, this will result in a higher level of therapeutic efficiency.