Ann Arbor, MI — April 5, 2006 — The results of a study conducted by a second-year dental student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry may prompt dentists, dental hygienists, and other oral health care professionals to pay closer attention to their youngest patients who could be victims of child abuse and neglect.

The student, John Thomas, said dental care providers and students are likely to encounter child abuse victims in their professional lives. However, the results of his study revealed that not all providers and students have the necessary knowledge to fulfill their legal and professional responsibilities.

Uniquely Positioned

Citing statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, Thomas noted that approximately 1,500 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in the U.S. in 2003, the year for which most-recent statistics are available.

Thomas said oral health care professionals are in a unique position to spot abuse and make a difference.

"Research shows that parents or guardians who abuse their children might change their child's pediatrician, but they are likely to continue visiting the child's dentist," he said. "These visits offer dental providers opportunities to recognize and report suspected cases of child maltreatment."

Thomas said his study showed that more than 82 percent of dental professionals knew they had to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, compared to 72 percent of dental and dental hygiene students. But only 28 percent of dentists and dental hygiene professionals, and only 18 percent of dental and dental hygiene students knew where or to whom to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. In Michigan, all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect are to be reported to the county office of Children's Protective Services, an agency of the Michigan Department of Human Services. The department's Web site has information about where to report abuse and neglect in each county in Michigan.

Thomas said that while dentists and dental hygienists recognized clinical symptoms that would suggest child abuse, they did not always know their legal or ethical obligations to report their findings or suspicions. "In some cases, oral health care professionals wonder if reporting suspected cases will be handled anonymously," he said. "Others wondered if reporting suspected cases of child abuse or neglect will adversely affect them professionally or personally. In other instances," he added, "some might even fear to be stigmatized if they report these cases or feel that they do not know enough to report instances of abuse."

More Education and Awareness

Thomas suggested devoting more attention in the classrooms, clinical settings, and in continuing education courses about what should be done. "Dental providers must have a plan in place to address child abuse and neglect should it present itself in their practices," he said. Thomas recommended all members of the dental office be prepared to know what to do when signs of abuse and neglect are detected, including knowing what information should be reported, how it should be reported, and what agency or agencies should receive the information.

In 2002, he noted, all dental schools in the U.S. and Canada included child abuse education in their curricula. "However, this statistic does not necessarily demonstrate that dental schools provided their students with any clinical or actual experiences involving child abuse and neglect," Thomas said.

"The results of this study show this project has both classroom and clinical implications," he said. "It also shows an interrelationship between what happens in communities and how future dentists and dental hygienists should receive better training to spot and deal with child abuse and neglect."

The results of Thomas's survey are based on anonymous responses to questionnaires received in April 2005 from nearly 700 individuals - 379 general dentists who were members of the Michigan Dental Association and dental hygienists who were members of the Michigan Dental Hygienists Association, as well as 309 dental and dental hygiene students at the School of Dentistry.

Results to be Published

Thomas's work won third place in the AADR's National Student Research Group Caulk/Dentsply Competition during the annual meeting of the American Association of Dental Research this spring. In addition, articles detailing his work are scheduled for publication later this spring in the Journal of Dental Education and later this summer or in the fall in the Journal of Pediatric Dentistry.

"Publishing these findings in two journals and winning an award during a national meeting are pretty unusual for a second-year dental student," said Dr. Marita Inglehart, Thomas's research advisor. "John's work shows that what we learn from practicing professionals could have a direct impact on the education our students receive in the classroom." Inglehart added that this is another example of the impact the dental school's student research program can have on students and the profession.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.

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