Rol del odontólogo para la detección del maltrato y abuso infantil. Revisión de la literatura

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The general objective of this research was to identify the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices adopted by the dentist in the face of the detection of mistreatment and child abuse. As specific objectives it is proposed: Identify the attitudes taken by the dentist against the management of child abuse and mistreatment. Evaluate the type of practices carried out by the dentist in the face of possible cases of mistreatment and child abuse. To determine the level of knowledge of the dentist against mistreatment and child abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of the literature was carried out, using databases such as: Medline, Google Scholar, Springer, SciELO, PubMed, ELSEVIER, including 72 articles in English and Spanish published in the last 7 years, which were chosen through inclusion criteria and related analyzes such as: child abuse, child abuse, pediatric dentistry and the role of the dentist. RESULTS: Abuse in infants can be extraoral or intraoral, which can be identified by the dentist. The use of gags, sublingual hematomas and even lacerations are identified by the pediatric dentist as sexual abuse, although there are other injuries that can be suspected as part of the presence of sexual abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals in dentistry play an essential role in the detection and control of abuse and are obliged to report suspected cases of child abuse to the child protection authorities.