Ethical and legal responsibility of the dentist in reporting abuse in the dental context

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the role of dentists in identifying and reporting cases of child abuse, with emphasis on the challenges faced in clinical practice and the importance of adequate professional training. Justification: although dentists are in a strategic position to recognize clinical signs of abuse, especially in the orofacial region, their performance is still limited by academic training gaps, lack of knowledge of current legislation, and fear of legal consequences. Methodology: this is a qualitative study, bibliographic and documentary in nature, based on scientific publications and official documents from the last five years. Conclusion: the findings highlight the urgent need for continuous training, the inclusion of the topic in undergraduate curricula, and the strengthening of intersectoral actions, emphasizing that the ethical and technical commitment of dentists is essential for early detection and proper referral of suspected cases, significantly contributing to the prevention and fight against child abuse.