The dentist as a child abuse informer: a case report

Abstract

Introducition: Domestic violence against children interferes in their psychological development, leading to sequels that manifest and persist up to adulthood. Physical evidence of domestic violence is easily observed in the orofacial complex and eventually becomes detected by dentists. Case Report: We report the case of a 9-year-old victim of maltreatment who was diagnosed during dental treatment. The existence of physical injuries (a hematoma in the left orbit and burns on the left hand and in the lips) aroused the attention of the pediatric dentistry, whose brought the case to the responsible authorities. Custody of the child was granted to the grandmother by a court decision, which enabled the recovery of health and quality of life. Conclusion: Professionals must properly conduct cases through complaints in order to protect children from future occurrences.