Types of child abuse and neglect: an overview for dentists.

epidemiology and characteristics. Dentists are likely to encounter physical abuse, sexual abuse, health care neglect, dental neglect, and safety neglect. Approximately 1% of children are abused or neglected each year in the United States. The incidence of each type in 1980 is recorded in Table 2.2 Physical Abuse Dentists are in a strategic position to recognize mistreated children. While the detection of dental care neglect is an obvious responsibility for dentists, other types of child abuse and neglect also may present themselves in the dental office. the characteristics and diagnostic findings of physical abuse (nonaccidental trauma), sexual abuse, failure to thrive (nutritional neglect), intentional drugging or poisoning, Mumhausen’s syndrome by proxy, health care neglect, safety neglect, emotional abuse, and physical neglect all should be familiar to the dentist. Once this information is known to the dentist, he can join physicians in protecting children from injury. M u c h has happened in our society since Dr. Kempe in 1961 coined the term “battered child syndrome” to describe children with numerous unexplained bruises, fractures, and head injuries.l Today, when a ”battered child” is encountered, we know our community detection and treatment systems have failed. Our goal today should be to recognize the many forms of child abuse at the earliest stages possible, before any permanent damage can occur, and to refer these families for needed services. Ten subtypes of child abuse and neglect (Table 1) will be discussed by TABLE 1. TvDes of Child Abuse and Neglect