The importance of the dental surgeon in recognition and identification of child abuse

Abstract

Abuse, which is characterized by any form of physical, emotional and sexual aggression and acts of neglect, is present in the lives of many children and adolescents. Health professionals play a fundamental role in identifying and reporting cases of mistreatment to the competent bodies. In this context, the CD plays a fundamental role in recognizing, preventing and reporting situations of abuse, as it has a strategic position for detecting cases. The objective of the present study is to expose and discuss the importance of CD in the early identification of children who are victims of abuse. This is a literature review, constructed through an exploration of the VHL, LILACS and PubMed database, using the descriptors “child abuse” and “dental surgeon”, separately and associated with each other by the Boolean operator “AND ”. Abuse has been affecting a growing number of children and adolescents, of all ages and genders, constituting a social and public health problem in several countries, including Brazil. Notification represents the main means of confronting cases of mistreatment and violence, since actions in the care and protection network are derived from it. However, the lack of information on the subject, combined with the lack of training, makes it difficult to identify cases, as well as for professionals to understand the importance of reporting. It is concluded that child abuse is capable of generating several negative repercussions on the victim's life, such as injuries, problems with self-esteem and social interaction, in addition to a decrease in well-being. The dentist must be able to recognize and diagnose suspected cases, as the craniofacial region is widely affected by this type of violence, enabling correct intervention and provision of services.