Key Points
-
Few dental professionals with child protection training have experience of making referrals.
-
There is a wide gap in practice between recognising signs of child abuse and neglect and responding effectively.
-
This may indicate missed opportunities to save children from continuing abuse.
-
There is a need for improved child protection information, support and training for dental professionals.
Abstract
Following several highly publicised inquiries into the deaths of children from abuse and neglect, there has been much recent interest in the role and responsibility of all health professionals to protect children at risk of maltreatment. The findings of a postal questionnaire, sent in March 2005 to 789 dentists and dental care professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry working in varied settings in the UK, are presented in a two-part report and discussed in the context of current multi-agency good practice in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This first part explores reported child protection training, experience and practice. There was a significant gap between recognising signs of abuse and responding effectively: 67% of respondents had suspected abuse or neglect of a child patient at some time in their career but only 29% had ever made a child protection referral. The dental profession is alerted to the need to ensure necessary appropriate action to safeguard children is always taken when child abuse or neglect are suspected.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Department for Children, Schools and Families. Referrals, assessments and children and young people who are the subject of a child protection plan, England - Year ending 31 March 2008. National Statistics, 2008. SFR24/2008. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000811/sfr24_2008.pdf
The Victoria Climbié Inquiry. Report of an Inquiry by Lord Laming. London: The Stationery Office, 2003. http://www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk
Lazenbatt A, Freeman R . Recognizing and reporting child physical abuse: a survey of primary healthcare professionals. J Adv Nurs 2006; 56: 227–236.
Naidoo S . A profile of the oro-facial injuries in child physical abuse at a children's hospital. Child Abuse Negl 2000; 24: 521–534.
Cairns A M, Mok J Y, Welbury R R . Injuries to the head, face, mouth and neck in physically abused children in a community setting. Int J Paediatr Dent 2005; 15: 310–318.
HM Government. Working together to safeguard children. London: The Stationery Office, 2006. http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
General Dental Council. Standards guidance. Standards for dental professionals. p 6. London: General Dental Council, 2005.
Welbury R R, MacAskill S G, Murphy J M et al. General dental practitioners' perception of their role within child protection: a qualitative study. Eur J Paediatr Dent 2003; 4: 89–95.
Cairns A M, Mok J Y, Welbury R R . The dental practitioner and child protection in Scotland. Br Dent J 2005; 199: 517–520.
Harris J, Sidebotham P, Welbury R et al. Child protection and the dental team: an introduction to safeguarding children in dental practice. Sheffield: Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND), 2006.
Ramos-Gomez F, Rothman D, Blain S . Knowledge and attitudes among California dental care providers regarding child abuse and neglect. J Am Dent Assoc 1998; 129: 340–348.
McDowell J D, Kassebaum D K, Fryer G E . Recognizing and reporting dental violence: a survey of dental practitioners. Spec Care Dentist 1994; 14: 49–53.
Saxe M D, McCourt J W . Child abuse: a survey of ASDC members and a diagnostic-data-assessment for dentists. J Dent Child 1991; 58: 361–366.
Edwards P, Roberts I, Clarke M et al. Methods to increase response rates to postal questionnaires (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 3. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com
General Dental Council. Personal communication. 17 August 2006.
General Dental Council. Statement on child protection and vulnerable adults. London: General Dental Council, 2008.
Warburton A L, Hanif B, Rowsell C, Coulthard P . Changes in the levels of knowledge and attitudes of dental hospital staff about domestic violence following attendance at an awareness raising seminar. Br Dent J 2006; 201: 653–659.
What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused: summary. London: Department of Health, 2003. Publication no. 31815.
What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused: a flow chart for referral. London: Department of Health, 2003. Publication no. 31981.
Scottish Executive Child Protection Audit and Review. 'It's everyone's job to make sure I'm alright': report of the Child Protection Audit and Review. Edinburgh: The Stationery Office, 2002.
Parton N . From Maria Colwell to Victoria Climbié: reflections on public inquiries into child abuse a generation apart. Child Abuse Review 2004; 13: 80–94.
Rose W, Barnes J . Improving safeguarding practice: study of serious case reviews 2001-2003. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008.
Von Burg M M, Hibbard R A . Child abuse education: do not overlook dental professionals. J Dent Child 1995; 62: 57–63.
Adair S M, Yasrebi S, Wray I A et al. Demographic, educational and experiential factors associated with dentists' decisions to report hypothetical cases of maltreatment. Pediatr Dent 1997; 19: 466–469.
John V, Messer L B, Arora R et al. Child abuse and dentistry: a study of knowledge and attitudes among dentists in Victoria, Australia. Aust Dent J 1999; 44: 259–267.
Kilpatrick N M, Scott J, Robinson S . Child protection: a survey of experience and knowledge within the dental profession of New South Wales, Australia. Int J Paediatr Dent 1999; 9: 153–159.
Bsoul S A, Flint D J, Dove S B, Senn D R, Alder M E . Reporting of child abuse: a follow-up survey of Texas dentists. Pediatr Dent 2003; 25: 541–545.
Thomas J E, Straffon L, Inglehart M R . Knowledge and professional experiences concerning child abuse: an analysis of provider and student responses. Pediatr Dent 2006; 28: 438–444.
Manea S, Favero G A, Stellini E et al. Dentists' perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and experience about child abuse and neglect in northeast Italy. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2007; 32: 19–25.
Horwath J . The missing assessment domain: personal, professional and organisational factors influencing professional judgements when identifying and referring child neglect. Br J Soc Work 2007; 37: 1285–1303.
Wynne J, Speight N . Response to 'Who is failing abused and neglected children?' Arch Dis Child 2001; 85: 300–302.
Children Act 1989. London: The Stationery Office, 1989.
General Medical Council. 0-18 years: guidance for all doctors. General Medical Council, 2007. http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/children_guidance
JD v East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust and others. 2005; UKHL 23.
Hendry E . Engaging general practitioners in child protection training. Child Abuse Review 1997; 6: 60–64.
Polnay J, Blair M . A model programme for busy learners. Child Abuse Review 1999; 8: 284–288.
Bannon M J, Carter Y H, Jackson N R, Pace M, Thorne W . Meeting the training needs of GP registrars in child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse Review 2001; 10: 254–261.
Ladbury B M . Family violence: the role and responsibilities of dental practitioners in the inter-professional response to family violence and abuse. MSc report, City University London, 2004.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the staff of Ferham Dental Clinic, Rotherham for assisting with administration of the questionnaire and BSPD members for participating. They would also like to thank Jean Russell of the University of Sheffield for statistical advice. Data collection was carried out as part of an analysis of dental team learning needs for an educational project commissioned and funded by the Department of Health (England) and carried out in association with COPDEND. The views expressed here are those of the authors alone.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Refereed paper
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Harris, J., Elcock, C., Sidebotham, P. et al. Safeguarding children in dentistry: 1. Child protection training, experience and practice of dental professionals with an interest in paediatric dentistry. Br Dent J 206, 409–414 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.307
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.307
This article is cited by
-
Child abuse knowledge and attitudes among dental and oral health therapists in Aotearoa New Zealand: a cross-sectional study
BMC Health Services Research (2022)
-
Mind the 'GAPP': a pre-graduation assessment of preparedness for practice amid a pandemic
British Dental Journal (2022)
-
A dentist's dilemma: sharing wellbeing concerns to safeguard Scotland's children
British Dental Journal (2022)
-
Implementation of a 'was not brought' pathway in paediatric dentistry
British Dental Journal (2021)
-
Child maltreatment in Dubai and the Northern United Arab Emirates: dental hygienists and assistants’ knowledge
European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry (2021)
