Authors : K. Louloudiadis, C. Stavrianos, A. Louloudiadis and A. Eliades
Abstract: When a child presents for examination particularly if there is any evidence of severe or repeated trauma involved, the history may alert the dentist to the possibility of a child abuse. Perhaps because crying or speaking emanates from the mouth, this area is frequently the focus of attack in cases of violent child abuse. The main step in identification of suspected child abuse and neglect is the general physical assessment of the child for example the poor nutritional state and subnormal growth, the extraoral injuries, bruises or abrasions and bite marks and the oral lesions i.e., loosened or fractured teeth, tears of the labial or lingual frenula, fractures of jaws and trauma to the tongue. This case report aims to present a case of a physically abused child, two and a half years old from his mother. The examination revealed marks of four fingers of attacker’s right hand on this victim’s cheek from a hard slap to the face. In conclusion, the ability to properly identify suspicious injuries to the head, face, mouth and neck of a child is imperative for dentists.
K. Louloudiadis, C. Stavrianos, A. Louloudiadis and A. Eliades, 2010. Problems in Dental Reporting of Child Abuse: A Case Report. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 4: 288-291.