Go to content
  2. Advice
  3. Patient care and safety
  4. Safeguarding dental patients
  5. Safeguarding children

Safeguarding children

Safeguarding children means protecting them from harm, abuse, and neglect, and promoting their wellbeing in all environments. Everyone working with or around children has a duty to recognise concerns and take appropriate action to keep them safe.

Overview

This advice provides guidance on safeguarding children within the dental setting, helping dental professionals understand their responsibilities and respond appropriately to concerns.

If you are worried about a child’s safety, refer to your practice’s safeguarding policy, contact your local safeguarding team or the police for immediate support.

Not already a member? For full access to BDA's advice articles, services, templates and more please choose the membership plan that works best for you. Please note that access to all templates and advice content may require Extra or Expert membership level.

Related advice

Safeguarding in dental practices

This advice provides a general outline of safeguarding in dental practices.

Safeguarding adults

Safeguarding adults involves protecting individuals who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to age, disability, or other vulnerabilities.

Types of abuse

Abuse can take many forms, and recognising the different types is essential for effective safeguarding. This advice outlines the main categories of abuse affecting both children and adults, helping dental teams identify concerns and respond appropriately.

Decision making, mental capacity and competency

This advice outlines how dental practices should support patients in making informed decisions, assess mental capacity, and understand legal safeguards when liberty or autonomy may be restricted.

Consent

This advice will help you to meet your requirements for obtaining consent from your patients prior to providing their dental care and treatment.

Safer recruitment and training

Safe working practices begin with robust recruitment procedures to ensure that only suitable individuals are engaged to work with all patients.

Criminal record checks

Each nation has a specific process to follow to confirm that team members have undergone criminal record checks and are safe to work with patients.

Interactive e-learning

Safeguarding Level 1 and 2: Children and adults at risk

This course will help you understand the importance of safeguarding, enable you to identify the signs of abuse and neglect and provide you with the tools to appropriately respond to concerns (4 hours verifiable CPD).
find out more
Safeguarding Level 1 and 2; girl looking pensive