ABSTRACT. Background: Child battered syndrome that affects children and adolescents from all ethnic groups, social classes and religions. In Colombia according to the numbers given by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute of physical abuse affect children between 5-14 years. 75 % of the injuries caused by this syndrome occur to the head or neck region; therefore, the dentist plays an important role in its early detection. Objective: To analyze the correlation between child battering, dental bruxism and clenching in children with and without apparent child abuse of 6 to 18 years. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was made, 104 children (52 children with a previous diagnosis of child abuse and 52 children without this diagnosis), mean age: 6 and 16 years. In both groups a clinical examination was made that included evaluation of habits, muscular system and presence of facets, temporomandibular joint and Test of Beck such as orientation in anxiety levels . Results: the presence of bruxism had no significant relationship between the two groups; while the dental clenching was reflected in a 57.7 % and 32.7 % presented levels of slight or moderate anxiety in battered children. Conclusions: There is a risk factor 16.4 times greater of battered children to present injurious dental clenching and develop temporomandibular disorders in the future.