Medical and Dental Professionals are Not Equipped in dealing with a hidden global child abuse and public health issue — infant oral mutilation

Abstract

In high-income countries like the UK, female genital mutilation (FGM) is well known among medical and dental professionals due to regular update and mandatory training in safeguarding young girls against FGM. Moreover, there are laws in most high-income countries to prosecute those convicted in practicing FGM and those who helped in victim transport for FGM. Unfortunately, there is no such awareness, publicity or protection by law for infant oral mutilation (IOM). IOM is a barbaric act involving the gouging out of healthy primary tooth buds of young children using unhygienic and crude instruments without sterilization or anesthetic by village healers. Young victims suffer from both local and systemic complications including death from severe septicemia. Systemic complications include anemia, meningitis, tetanus, and risks of transmission of bloodborne hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus infections. Local dentoalveolar complications include hypoplastic and malformed permanent teeth, midline and occlusal discrepancies, and others. Over 80% of children of some East African communities underwent IOM has been reported. Due to the ease of travel, global mobilization has brought IOM victims or those at risk of IOM to high-income countries whilst young children continue to be taken abroad for IOM. It is paramount to educate our medical and dental colleagues in high-income countries about IOM. Any unexplained development of primary or permanent dentition in young African children should raise the suspicion of IOM. Like FGM, IOM should be made a child protection issue not just in the UK and other high-income countries, but also in African countries in order to raise the awareness of this traditional harmful practice.