Child Maltreatment

Child maltreatment is any non-accidental trauma, neglect or failure to provide the necessities of health and life to a child by the guardian or caretaker of the child that goes beyond the norm of childcare. It is a complex problem with many causes. A high index of suspicion is the prime requisite for the successful recognition and prevention of child abuse. Pediatric dentists have the potential to recognize child maltreatment in their clinical practice, owing to their comprehension on child's cognitive, psychological and social development.