Child abuse and neglect: the dental assistant's role in prevention.

Child abuse and neglect are growing at ever increasing rates in the U.S. It is not only within the purview of dental practice to identify and report suspected cases, it is also required by state law. An appropriate child abuse and neglect protocol in your dental practice is the best defense children may have to prevent these problems. Talk about abuse and neglect at your staff meetings. Be aware of the warning signs, know what to consider when you see an injury, and know how to make a report. When you see a child that may be a victim, remember that everyone else in the dental office has seen the same child and may have useful information. Talk privately among yourselves about what you see and hear. Encourage your dentist to fulfill his or her legal obligation to report suspected cases, but understand that anyone can make a report, whether specified as a mandated reporter or not. Remember that breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect not only can make your patient happier and healthier, it may save a child's life.

The role for dental professionals in preventing child abuse and neglect.

The topic of child maltreatment is difficult because all practitioners wish that child abuse and neglect did not happen. The intent of this article is to show all dental professionals that a through understanding of their involvement in this issue can lead to a feeling of acceptance--an acceptance that we can do something to stop this

The role Kentucky's dentists must play in preventing child abuse & neglect.

Dentistry must become more aware of its moral, legal, and ethical responsibilities in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. All dental professionals must be aware of the seriousness of the problems of child maltreatment, and understand that children do not just get hurt in abuse and neglect, they often die as a direct result of their maltreatment. Unfortunately, victims of child abuse and neglect fall into only two categories--those who lived through it and those who did not.

Dentistry preventing family violence.

Dentistry has a long history of dealing with one form of family violence, child maltreatment. However, a recent national survey shows that dentists are not living up to their legal and ethical obligations to report suspected child victims. Dentistry needs to be equally concerned with adult victims of family violence--the victims of spousal abuse and elder abuse and neglect. Successful child abuse prevention programs need to expand to cover all of family violence. All health care professionals need education and awareness training to help develop the necessary attitudes to deal with all victims of family violence.

How dentistry succeeds in preventing family violence.

Dentistry has a long history of dealing with one form of family violence: child maltreatment. However, a recent national survey shows that dentists are not living up to their legal and ethical obligations to report suspected child victims. Dentistry also needs to be equally concerned with adult victims of family violence--victims of spousal abuse and elder abuse and neglect. Successful child abuse prevention programs need to expand to cover all types of family violence. All health care professionals need education and awareness training to help develop the necessary attitudes to deal with victims of family violence.

Legal issues affecting dentistry's role in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Dentists can best help protect children from maltreatment through an understanding of the child protective services process. All dentists are covered under state statutes as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. Reporting statutes vary considerably from state to state. All dentists must understand the intricacies of applicable state laws to help identify suspected child maltreatment while protecting themselves from liability.

Child abuse and dentistry: what you should know.

Dentistry must become more aware of its moral, legal and ethical responsibilities in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. All dental professionals must be aware of the seriousness of the problems of child maltreatment, and understand that children do not just get hurt in abuse and neglect, they often die as a direct result of their maltreatment. It has been said that victims of child abuse and neglect fall into only two categories--those who lived through it, and those who did not.

The role Tennessee's dentists must play in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Dentistry must become more aware of its moral, legal and ethical responsibilities in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. All dental professionals must be aware of the seriousness of the problems of child maltreatment, and understand that children do not just get hurt in abuse and neglect, they often die as a direct result of their maltreatment. Unfortunately, as was pointed out by Warnick, victims of child abuse and neglect fall into only two categories--those who lived through it and those who did not.

Child abuse and dentistry--what you should know.

Dentistry must become more aware of its moral, legal and ethical responsibilities in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. All dental professionals must be aware of the seriousness of the problems of child maltreatment, and understand that children do not just get hurt in abuse and neglect, they often die as a direct result of their maltreatment. It has been said that victims of child abuse and neglect fall into only two categories--those who lived through it and those who did not.