A ABORDAGEM DO CIRURGIÃO-DENTISTA FRENTE À VIOLÊNCIA INFANTIL: UMA ANÁLISE DOCUMENTAL

Child abuse is a serious public health problem and a violation of human rights, with long-term physical, psychological and social impacts. In the context of oral health, dentists occupy a strategic position in identifying suspected cases, especially due to the frequency of injuries in the orofacial region. This study aimed to analyze the role of dentists in identifying, reporting and referring cases of child abuse, based on a documentary analysis of scientific articles and institutional documents. The methodology adopted included the selection of publications from the Gov.Br, Centro Marista de Defesa da Infância, SciELO, SciSpace and Google Scholar databases, prioritizing texts published in the last decade. The analysis showed that oral health professionals, although legally required to report cases, often face insecurities and training gaps that hinder the implementation of this practice. The main signs and symptoms observed in dental examinations include injuries consistent with physical or sexual abuse or neglect, which require technical registration and immediate notification to the competent authorities. It is concluded that continuous training, strengthening of protection networks and integration between health services are essential to guarantee the protection of victims and the effectiveness of the institutional response to child abuse.