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Expert view: Jenny Harris

British Dental Journal volume 232, page 36 (2022)Cite this article

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When does childhood dental caries become neglect or abuse: do parents think what we think? Br Dent J 2021; http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3569-8

In the weeks leading up to Christmas 2021, social media lit up with the hashtags #RIPArthur and #RIPStar. News reports revealed the shocking reality of what happens behind closed doors. As never before, in graphic detail with harrowing audio recordings, we saw the injuries and neglect that preceded these children's murders in their own homes by their parents' partners. Then all goes quiet as their names are added to the list already etched on public consciousness: Victoria Climbié, Peter Connelly, Daniel Pelka. Returning to our dental surgeries, our responsibility remains unchanged to 'take appropriate action if you have concerns about the possible abuse of children'.1

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References

  1. General Dental Council. Focus on Standards: Principle 8 - 8.5. Available at https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle8/principle8.aspx (accessed December 2021).

  2. Olive S, Tuthill D, Hingston E J, Chadwick B, Maguire S. Do you see what I see? Identification of child protection concerns by hospital staff and general dental practitioners. Br Dent J 2016; 220: 451-457.

  3. Harris J C, Balmer R C, Sidebotham P D. British Society of Paediatric Dentistry: a policy document on dental neglect in children. Int J Paediatr Dent 2009; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2009.00996.x.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultant in Community Paediatric Dentistry/Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Charles Clifford Dental Services, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, USA

    Jenny Harris

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  1. Jenny Harris
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Harris, J. Expert view: Jenny Harris. Br Dent J 232, 36 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-3848-z

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