Recognising and reporting child abuse by orthodontists
In 2013, the child abuse and domestic violence reporting code was introduced in the Netherlands, which obliged caregivers to report suspicions of child abuse or domestic violence. In 2014, a survey was conducted among dentists on this subject. However, nothing was known about the use of the reporting code among orthodontists. In December 2015, a survey was sent to members of the Dutch Orthodontic Society (NVvO). The survey consisted of 20 items about applying the reporting code and experiences with patients. Most orthodontists were aware of the reporting code (83%) and had implemented this in their practice (64%). Nevertheless, orthodontists found it difficult to recognise signs of child abuse, mostly because of a lack of experience in this area. Most orthodontists who suspected child abuse took action, mainly by seeking advice from the foundation ‘Veilig Thuis’ (‘Safe at Home’).