Association between severe dental caries and child abuse and neglect

Publication date: Available online 15 May 2017
Source:Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Author(s): Henk Sillevis Smitt, Jenny de Leeuw, Tjalling de Vries
PurposeIn our maxillofacial practice we encountered some children with severe dental caries and whose teeth had to be removed; many later appeared to be abused children. The authors hypothesized that in the group of children who underwent multiple tooth extractions for caries under general anaesthesia, a higher percentage of children were found to be abused compared to the normal population.MethodsWe identified children who underwent multiple tooth extractions under general anaesthesia in a well-defined region in the Netherlands in the years 2005 and 2006. Subsequently, we sought these children in the database of the Dutch national organisation against domestic violence and child abuse (Veilig Thuis) in 2015.ResultsOf the total group of 376 children, 205 (55%) underwent the procedure because of caries in this period. In 47 (23%, 95%CI 20 – 26) of this group of children, child abuse and neglect was established by Veilig Thuis, while in 27 of them, the procedure occurred before child abuse was established.ConclusionThere appears to be a strong association between severe dental caries and child abuse and neglect. Hence, severe dental caries could be regarded as an early symptom of child abuse and neglect.



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