Suspicious lesions of child abuse in Pediatric Dentistry clinics

The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of suspected child abuse (CA) in pediatric dentistry clinics of a Colombian public university. Descriptive study in 100 parent-child pairs aged 6 to 9 years and dental students. A questionnaire was designed and applied, inquiring about sociodemographic variables, general suspicion of CA and suspicion of CA was clinically evaluated according to injuries in the child. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were performed using X2 test. The results show the prevalence of general suspicion of CA was 12% and of suspected CA according to orofacial lesions 24%; the most prevalent extraoral and intraoral lesion was laceration (10%). Significant relationships were found between general suspicion of CA with tearing of the labial frenulum, multiple scars, burns suggestive of CA, bite marks, contusions, and lip laceration (p<0.005) and between suspicion of CA according to orofacial injuries and inadequate clothing, evidence of pain in the body, inadequate management of bodily injuries among others (p<0.005). It is concluded that in pediatric dentistry clinics in the university setting, suspicious lesions of CA can be presented from the general and orofacial evaluation; it is ethical and legal to train dental students in their detection, reporting and intervention, protecting the wellbeing of the child beyond the mouth.