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Cairns AM, Mok JYQ et al. Int J Paediatr Dent 2005; 15: 310–318

So far, no study has identified the prevalence of orofacial injury in physically abused children. This study examined the records of 390 children who were under the age of 16 yrs over a 5 yr period and for whom physical abuse was suspected. The identification of such records was subject to others being removed because the child had reached 16 yrs of age, or because some were in use or subject to criminal investigation.

In the recovered records, 45% of children were <4yrs old, over 60% were boys, and 15% were known to be on the Child Protection Register. In 230 children, 315 signs of abuse on head, face, mouth or neck were recorded. Most of these (65%) were facial bruising, followed by facial abrasion (23%), bruised head (18%) and bruised neck (12%) and other injuries. In more than 60% of the injuries, the alleged cause was undisclosed, but 23% had been punched or slapped, 16% had been beaten with an implement and 16% had sustained more than 2 mechanisms of assault. The authors emphasize the important place the dental practitioner may have in identifying such abuse.