3.3 Child Abuse and Dental Neglect
Dental Neglect
Untreated Rampant Caries, Indicative of
Dental Neglect.*
While child abuse may be identified by the nature and frequency of injuries, dental neglect is more elusive.
Characteristics of dental neglect include the following:
- Untreated rampant caries
- Untreated pain, infection, bleeding, or trauma affecting the orofacial region
- History of lack of continuity of care in the presence of identified dental pathology
Recognizing dental neglect is important because, in many cases, it is
associated with general neglect. One reason for dental neglect
is that many parents are under the false impression that the primary teeth
are unimportant and that their care may be ignored. The ability to pay
for treatment may influence the decision to seek care. Nevertheless, it
is a mistake to confuse intentional neglect with poverty or ignorance.
*Adapted, with permission, from Arkansas PANDA Coalition. [n.d.]. PANDA Prevent Abuse and Neglect Though Dental Awareness [PowerPoint presentation]. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas PANDA Coalition.
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