Child abuse education: do not overlook dental professionals.

Dental professionals are mandated by law to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect (CAN), but surveys show dentists do not fulfill their obligation to report. Even though more than 50 percent of physical abuse occurs to the head and facial area, and more than 70 percent of child abuse and neglect fatalities are caused by injuries to the head and neck, dental professionals are often overlooked in efforts to educate the public on the problem. Pre-program questionnaires completed by dental professionals attending an educational program on identifying and reporting child abuse indicated that 70 percent had no previous training in identifying and reporting child abuse, 65 percent had suspected child abuse in their patients, but only 19 percent reported the abuse. As a result of this educational program, it is expected that some children in the state of Indiana will receive improved assessments by dentists and suspected child abuse and neglect will be reported to the proper agencies when identified.