Overview and Pilot Study of the Dental Practitioner's Role in Child Protection

• NCJ Number: 204942
• Journal: Child Abuse Review Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2004 Pages: 65-72
• Author(s): Alison Cairns; Michael Murphy; Richard Welbury
• Date Published: January 2004
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article presents a review of the literature pertaining to the involvement of dental practitioners in child abuse cases and reports the results of a pilot study on the child protection training of undergraduate and postgraduate dental students.

Abstract

Dental practitioners have an important role to play in the reporting of suspected child abuse. Research has indicated that at least 50 percent of the signs of childhood physical abuse manifest in the orofacial region. Examples of orofacial injuries include dental trauma, bruises, abrasions, lacerations, bite marks, and burns. Surveys of dental practitioners have revealed that between 8 to 65 percent of practitioners have suspected child abuse, yet very few cases are reported to the appropriate authorities by dental practitioners. This is startling considering that a dental practitioner may be the only medical professional an abused child comes into contact with. However, the United Kingdom, unlike many States in America, does not mandate that dentists report abuse; however, it is considered professional misconduct not to report suspicions of child abuse. The pilot study, which was carried out by 2 of the authors, explored the child abuse training experience of 38 undergraduate and postgraduate dental practitioners who were attending a postgraduate child protection training course. The questionnaire results indicated no uniformity of training about child abuse and protection and inadequate or non-existent interagency training regarding child protection procedures. Furthermore, although the pilot study involved a small sample size, there is substantial evidence that these results are representative of the dental profession within the United Kingdom. Considering the consequences of inaction, dental practitioners should have access to child protection training and interagency child protection procedures. References