Protecting children in Aotearoa New Zealand: a review on legal and professional frameworks for oral health practitioners.

ABSTRACT: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child asserts that all children have the right to protection from abuse and exploitation. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the prevalence of child maltreatment requires vigilant action from oral health practitioners (OHPs), who are often among the first in the position to recognise signs of abuse and neglect due to their frequent interactions with children in dental settings. The Dental Council of New Zealand sets professional requirements, highlighting practitioners' roles in responding to potential signs of maltreatment. Multiple statutes, including the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and the Family Violence Act 2018, govern OHPs' responses. Despite this, there is a notable gap in OHPs' confidence and understanding of their child protection roles, unde

SUBMITTER: Han H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12315175 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature