Authors : C. Stavrianos, P. Stavrianou, L. Vasiliadis, A. Karamouzi, D. Tatsis and E. Samara
Abstract: Orofacial trauma is the most common trauma that occurs in the cases of abuse of young infants and children. The purpose of this report is to review the oral and dental aspects of physical abuse and the role of physicians and dentists in evaluating such conditions. This study addresses the evaluation of craniofacial injuries as well as perioral and intraoral injuries, infections and diseases that may be suspicious for child abuse or neglect. Physicians receive minimal training in oral health and dental injury and disease and thus, may not detect dental aspects of abuse or neglect as readily as they do child abuse and neglect involving other areas of the body. Therefore, physicians and dentists are encouraged to collaborate to increase the prevention, detection and treatment of these conditions. The current case report involves a young child with orofacial trauma. The historical trends of child abuse are outlined in order to prove the diachronic pattern of this phenomenon.
C. Stavrianos, P. Stavrianou, L. Vasiliadis, A. Karamouzi, D. Tatsis and E. Samara, 2011. Physical Child Abuse: A Case Report. The Social Sciences, 6: 432-437.