Dental care professionals and child protection: case scenarios and discussions

Park, C. (2015) Dental care professionals and child protection: case scenarios and discussions. Primary Dental Journal, 4(4), pp. 52-55. (doi: 10.1308/205016815816682317)

Abstract

Any concerns about paediatric patients in general dental practice can be stressful for all involved. Barriers to the reporting of concerns by dental teams are known to exist. Anything that can help ease those situations can only be beneficial. In this article we look at three scenarios that could arise which I am often asked about during teaching and training sessions on safeguarding and child protection for dental teams. They can be discussed at team meetings and training, so that if they are ever to happen for real, everyone will know exactly what to do. This article cannot be completely prescriptive as there will be local variations, but it gives general guidance on issues raised by the scenarios. If you already have a child protection policy in your practice, make sure you know what it says; and if you don't this article will point the way to further resources for developing one.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Park, Dr Christine
• Authors: Park, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: Primary Dental Journal
• Publisher: Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
• ISSN: 2050-1684
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
• First Published: First published in Primary Dental Journal 4(4):52-55
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher.