A IMPORTANCE OF THE DENTAL SURGEON IN IDENTIFYING MISTREATMENT AND ABUSE IN CHILDREN

Literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Child abuse is a public health problem that causes increasing concern, as it can lead to permanent emotional and physical consequences or even result in death. Since most aggressions can be detected in the face and neck region, the dentist can be a valuable ally in detecting and reporting suspected cases of abuse. Objective: to guide the dentist on how to evaluate and identify cases of suspected abuse. Methodology: The review was carried out using Google Scholar, VHL, SciElo and PubMed. The period considered was from 2019 to 2024. Results: Abuse can take on different aspects of physical, sexual, psychological or abandonment. The consequences of these violent acts manifest themselves in the orofacial region, and may include bruises, lacerations and edema, in addition to frenulum injuries, petechiae and hemorrhages in the palate region, as a result of the forced introduction of a foreign body. Other indicators may be lesions caused by STIs, such as syphilis and herpes. Negligence can be seen in cases of multiple and extensive carious lesions and serious intra-oral infections such as abscesses. In addition to the signs found, the professional must also evaluate the behavior of the child and their guardians. The dentist must be informed that this is a mandatory notification event. Conclusions: The dentist is one of the professionals most likely to recognize signs of violence, however, due to insecurity or uncertainty, they often do not report it. It is important to reverse this situation, guiding and training these professionals regarding the fight against child abuse.