Identificação de abuso sexual infantil em atendimentos odontológicos

Abstract

The objective of this literature review was to contribute to the identification of child sexual abuse in dental care settings. Dentists are more likely to encounter such cases in their daily practice. However, these cases are often not reported due to a lack of adequate knowledge. Professionals hesitate to report such cases for various reasons, creating a vicious cycle that 4 traps the victim, leading to severe long-term consequences. This review aims to collect available literature from PubMed, Scielo, and scientific dentistry journals. The review addressed the identification of child sexual abuse in dental environments, the various legal resources and organizations related to it, and how dentists can better equip themselves to handle such cases if they encounter one. Although dentists can detect injuries, there is a significant lack of knowledge on how to report cases of child sexual abuse to authorities. All dentists should learn and assume, as professional obligations, the early identification of signs or symptoms characteristic of child sexual abuse when confronted with a suspicious case, and they should be fully aware of the appropriate procedures for documentation and reporting. Such efforts can increase the ability to protect and care for our patients, who are often unable to protect themselves.