Background & Aim: Child abuse and neglect is a very serious problem that has long consequences for those involved and for society in general. Dental professionals are in an exceptional position to identify and report these cases. Statistics of previous studies revealed that only one percent of dentists reported suspected cases. Aims of lecture are to help dentists to learn about their ethical responsibilities and legal obligation toward child abuse cases and how to detect and report them.

Methods: This lecture will demonstrate types and consequences of child abuse and neglect and the prevalence worldwide. In addition, ethical and legal concerns of different health care organizations related to dentists’ reporting suspected cases. Oral symptoms of child abuse and neglect will be discussed and classified according to the type such as physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Physical abuse may result lacerations of tongue, oral mucosa, palate, gingiva alveolar mucosa or frenum, fractured, displaced or avulsed teeth facial bone and jaw fractures, burns or other injuries. Sexual abuse may represents significant oral manifestations as oral and perioral gonorrhea, unexplained erythema or petechiae of the palate, particularly at the junction of the hard and soft palate, pseudomembranous and condylomatous lesions of lips, tongue, palate and nose-pharynx. Dental neglect is detected by untreated early childhood caries, odontogenic infection or pain, periodontal disease.

Conclusion: Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by increase in Dentist’s awareness about their roles of reporting these cases and strengthen their abilities to detect them in early stage.