Which of the following is MANDATORY for a dental healthcare provider to report?

Correct answer: A. Suspected child abuse and neglect

• A. Correct. Dentists are mandated reporters in all U.S. states. They are legally and ethically obligated to report suspected child abuse and neglect. Proof is not required — only reasonable cause to believe or suspect abuse, neglect, or imminent serious harm.
• B. Improper treatment may warrant professional board reporting, but it is not the primary legally mandated reporting duty for all dentists.
• C. Reporting impaired colleagues is encouraged and may be mandatory depending on jurisdiction, but the most universal mandatory reporting duty for dentists is child abuse.
• D. Patient opioid addiction is a clinical issue to address within the therapeutic relationship; it is not a mandatory reporting requirement in the same legal sense as child abuse.