THE ROLE OF THE DENTIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE THROUGH OROFACIAL AND BEHAVIORAL MANIFESTATIONS IN THE DENTAL SETTING

Abstract

Child sexual abuse represents a significant social problem, making the role of dental surgeons essential in identifying suggestive signs and reporting suspected cases. Objective: To analyze the role of dental surgeons in identifying orofacial and behavioral manifestations suggestive of child sexual abuse, as well as in recognizing and reporting suspected cases. Materials and Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted, with searches in the Virtual Health Library (VHL), which includes databases such as LILACS, MEDLINE, and BBO, as well as supplementary searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Results and Conclusion: The results demonstrated that dental surgeons play a strategic role in the early identification of signs suggestive of child sexual abuse due to the frequency with which they examine orofacial structures that may present injuries resulting from violence. However, challenges remain regarding the recognition of clinical and behavioral signs, knowledge of legal responsibilities, and compliance with mandatory reporting requirements. It is concluded that no isolated clinical finding can confirm the occurrence of child sexual abuse. Therefore, a combined assessment of physical, behavioral, and contextual signs is necessary, along with coordination among members of a multidisciplinary team.