Extraoral and Intraoral Signs of Child Abuse

Child abuse has become a stigma of modern society and has been reported in most countries. Objective: To investigate the incidence of extraoral and intraoral lesions in cases of child abuse in South Africa and compare the results to those reported in the literature. Methods: The extraoral and intraoral traumas as a result of child abuse were examined from Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. Hard and soft tissue lesions were documented. A comparison was made to documented cases from other countries. Results: Fractures of teeth and soft tissue bruising comprised the largest percentage of oral traumas. Fractures of the maxilla and mandible contributed 10% and oral burns were seen in 5% of cases. Conclusion: The Extraoral and intraoral traumas in cases of child abuse are mainly centered in the head and neck region. The death rate is higher than other countries.