Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect in the Dental Office

Abstract

Dentists in general, and pediatric dentists in particular, can play an important role in detecting and reporting cases of child abuse and neglect (CAN). This article discusses the CAN indicators to which dentists must pay attention. It focuses on the detection of the forms of physical and sexual abuse and dental neglect that dentists most commonly come across in the course of their work.

It also discusses the degree to which dentists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) are educated about CAN, the legal requirements related to reporting suspected cases of CAN, and the main features of the reporting procedure.