Dentists and mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect

Dentists rarely report child abuse and neglect. The author discusses dentists' failure to report and puts it in perspective by surveying the literature and conducting original research. He also offers solutions to assist dentists in fulfilling their responsibilities to recognize and report maltreatment. Dentists can become part of the child abuse and neglect service system, which will help abused and neglected children and keep dentists from legal and financial liability.