Child Neglect/Protection

Question 1

Define dental neglect.

Answer 1

Dental neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic oral health needs, like to result in the serious impairment of a child’s oral or general health or development.

Question 2

How can dental neglect be identified?

(5)

Answer 2

Evaluation of dental disease:
* severe untreated dental caries
* dental attendance

Parental awareness:
* lack of parental knowledge
* failure to implement recommended preventive practices and failure to seek dental care

Access to dental care:
* inequalities?
* irregular attendee?

Autonomy of the child

Vulnerable children

Question 3

What are the 3 stages of intervention when dental neglect is recognised?

Answer 3

1. Preventive Dental Team Management
2. Preventive Multi-Agency Management
3. Child Protection Referral

Question 4

What is Preventive Dental Team Management?

dental neglect intervention

Answer 4

• relief of pain and other symptoms, restore function and appearance
• raise concerns with parents, explain what changes are needed, offer support
• keep accurate records
• continue to liaise with parents/carers and review progress

Question 5

What is Preventive Multi-Agency Management?

dental neglect intervention

Answer 5

• seek parental consent to consult other professionals (health visitor, school nnurse, doctor, or social worker) who have contact with the child to see if concerns are shared
• if not possible to obtain consent, take further advice

Question 6

When should a child protection referral be made?

dental neglect intervention

Answer 6

child is suffering significant harm from dental neglect or showing other signs of neglect or abuse