Mandatory Reporting of Oral Injuries Indicating Possible Child Abuse | Journal of the American Dental Association

The dental professional may see pediatric patients who have signs of intraoral trauma, perioral trauma or both. Evaluation should include the possibility of nonaccidental, deliberately inflicted abuse. Reporting such injuries is mandated. State laws and dental ethical duties require all dental professionals to be aware of and to report instances of child abuse or neglect. These same laws protect clinicians in this duty. It is the clinician's responsibility to help prevent ongoing injury to people who are incapable of self-protection.

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• Child Maltreatment
• Policy, Regulation & Legislation