Mathur Shivani, Chopra Rahul
Oral Health Prev Dent. 2013;11(3):243-50. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.a29357.
Child abuse has serious physical and psychosocial consequences which adversely affect the health and overall well-being of a child. However, in a developing country like India there has been no knowledge of the extent, magnitude and trends of the problem. This study reviews the overall scenario of child abuse in India as well as the role of the dentist in recognising and thereby combating this problem.
Among health professionals, dentists are probably in the most favourable position to recognise child abuse, with opportunities to observe and assess not only the physical and the psychological condition of the children, but also the family environment. The high frequency of facial injuries associated with physical abuse places the dentist at the forefront of professionals to detect and treat an abused child. Screening for maltreatment should be an integral part of any clinical examination performed on a child. Although many injuries are not caused by abuse, dentists should always be suspicious of traumatic injuries. The dental professional's role in child abuse and neglect is to know the current state law regarding reporting child abuse and to follow the law. Awareness, identification, documentation and notification should be carried out by the dentist.
Paediatric dentists can provide valuable information and assistance to physicians about oral and dental aspects of child abuse and neglect. Such efforts will strengthen the ability to prevent and detect child abuse and neglect and enhance care and protection for the children.
虐待儿童会产生严重的身体和心理社会后果，对儿童的健康和整体幸福产生不利影响。然而，在像印度这样的发展中国家，人们对该问题的范围、严重程度和趋势并不了解。本研究回顾了印度虐待儿童的总体情况以及牙医在识别并从而解决这一问题中所起的作用。
在卫生专业人员中，牙医可能处于最有利的位置来识别虐待儿童问题，他们不仅有机会观察和评估儿童的身体和心理状况，还能了解家庭环境。与身体虐待相关的面部损伤发生率很高，这使牙医处于发现和治疗受虐儿童的专业人员前沿。对虐待行为的筛查应成为对儿童进行任何临床检查的一个组成部分。虽然许多损伤并非由虐待所致，但牙医应始终对创伤性损伤持怀疑态度。牙科专业人员在虐待和忽视儿童问题中的作用是了解当前关于报告虐待儿童的州法律并遵守该法律。牙医应进行意识培养、识别、记录和报告。
儿科牙医可以就虐待和忽视儿童的口腔和牙科方面向医生提供有价值的信息和帮助。此类努力将加强预防和发现虐待和忽视儿童行为的能力，并加强对儿童的护理和保护。
