Primary identification of an abused child in a dental office: a case report

Dental practitioners are able to identify physical evidence of injuries to chi’Idren, especially in the regions of the head and neck and oro-facial structures. When such injuries are of suspicious origin, the dentist has an obligation to document and report his/her findings to appropziate authorities so that proper action may be taken to protect the child while the problem is investigated and resolved. A case is presented in which a male child was first identified as a child abuse victim at a routine dental office visit.