The “Neglected” Relationship Between Child Maltreatment and Oral Health? An International Scoping Review of Research

Abstract

Globally, the oral health needs of children who have, or are suspected of having, experienced abuse or neglect has become a focus of concern. It is thus valuable and timely to map the contemporary nature of the research landscape in this expanding field. This review reports the findings of a scoping review of the international empirical literature. The aim was to explore the relationship between child maltreatment and oral health and how this complex issue is addressed in contemporary dental, health and social care practice. The review identified 68 papers, analysis of which identified three themes: 1) There is a relationship between poor oral health and child maltreatment that is well-evidenced but conceptually underdeveloped 2) There are discrepancies between the knowledge of members of the dental team about child maltreatment and their confidence and aptitude to identify and report child protection concerns 3) There are areas of local-level policy and practice development that seek to improve working relationships between dentists and health and social care practitioners; however, there is widespread evidence that this group of vulnerable children continue to 'slip through' the gaps of different professional communication systems and policy areas. To orientate critical discussion and planning for future research and practice, we present the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research Recommendations framework (PAGER). The review's findings are likely to be of interest and relevance to researchers, practitioners and policy makers working across dentistry, health and social work.

Association between psychosocial determinants of adverse childhood experiences and severe early childhood caries among First Nations children

“…The prevalence estimates for most of the ACE indicators were significantly higher for the on-reserve population (Table 3, second column) than those living off-reserve (Table 4, second column). Specifically, mothers living on reserve were more likely to: be younger than 30 3 and 4, second column).…”

“…The available literature provides evidence that dental neglect, in the form of S-ECC, is a marker of broader neglect in young children, but this same literature acknowledges that the relationship between poor oral health and child maltreatment is conceptually underdeveloped. 30 On the one hand, it is important for professionals working across dentistry, and in medicine, nursing and social work, to make the link between severe ECC and child neglect so as to allow improvements to be made in care pathways for vulnerable children most at risk for ECC. On the other hand, children are rarely referred to child protection services for dental neglect on its own.…”

Recognition of risk and prevention in safeguarding of children and young people: a mapping review and component analysis of interventions aimed at health and social care professionals

“…• The review (particularly the review of reviews) identified tensions between safeguarding being everyone's business and identified requirements for training which need to be proportionate to need and other competing roles and responsibilities 15,174 .…”

“…make it challenging to access training and development to what are, after all, a relatively small and yet critically important part of their identified learning needs. Bradbury-Jones 2019174 similarly identifies how child safeguarding issues may arise in connection with oral health, pointing out that dental practitioners are well-placed to detect some of the more obvious physical signs of physical neglect in children.Professionals who have continuous contact with children, such as people working in schools and community health services, can play a leading role in recognising, responding to, and supporting maltreated children Gilbert 2009 168 . Other professions, such as paramedics, do not require such continuity in their role in meeting the needs of vulnerable children.…”

The engagement of children in out‐of‐home care with nursing and allied health professionals: A scoping review

“…There is also evidence that children in OOHC use more tertiary and specialist healthcare services compared with children from similar social and economic backgrounds (Jee & Simms, 2006; Knight et al, 2016) suggesting more complex healthcare needs in this population. However, engagement with and access to health care professionals outside of tertiary care settings is a significant problem and consequently, the broad range of health care needs, including oral health, of children in OOHC often go unmet (Ackert et al, 2000; Bradbury‐Jones et al, 2013, 2021; Carlson, 1996; Conlon & Ingram, 2006; Deutsch & Fortin, 2015; Fussell & Evans, 2009; Jackson et al, 2016; Jee & Simms, 2006; Kortenkamp & Ehrle, 2002).…”