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Definition |
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Forensic is derived from the
Latin word forum, which means ‘court of law.’
Odontology literally implies ‘the study of
teeth.’ Forensic odontology, therefore, has been
defined by the Fédération Dentaire International
(FDI) as “that branch of dentistry which, in the
interest of justice, deals with the proper
handling and examination of dental evidence, and
with the proper evaluation and presentation of
dental findings.” |
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Objectives of the undergraduate curriculum |
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At the end of the programme, the dental graduate
should: |
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1. |
Have sound knowledge of the
theoretical and practical aspects of forensic
odontology. |
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2. |
Have an awareness of ethical
obligations and legal responsibilities in
routine practice and forensic casework. |
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3. |
Be competent to recognise
forensic cases with dental applications when
consulted by the police, forensic pathologists,
lawyers and associated professionals. |
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4. |
Be competent in proper
collection of dental evidence related to cases
of identification, ethnic and sex
differentiation, age estimation and bite marks. |
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5. |
Be able to assist in
analysis, evaluation, and presentation of dental
facts within the realm of law. |
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Curriculum for forensic odontology |
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1. |
Introduction to forensic dentistry |
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- Definition and history |
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- Recent developments and future trends |
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2. |
Overview of forensic medicine and toxicology |
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- Cause of death and postmortem changes |
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- Toxicological manifestations in teeth and oral
tissues |
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3. |
Dental identification |
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Definition |
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- Basis for dental identification |
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- Postmortem procedures |
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- Dental record compilation and interpretation |
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- Comparison of data, and principles of report
writing |
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- Identification in disasters and handling
incinerated remains |
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- Postmortem changes to oral structures |
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4. |
Maintaining dental records |
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- Basic aspects of good record-keeping |
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- Different types of dental records |
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Dental charts |
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Dental radiographs |
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Study casts |
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Denture marking |
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Photographs |
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- Dental notations |
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- Relevance of dental records in forensic
investigation |
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5. |
Age estimation |
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-Age estimation in children and adolescents |
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Advantages of tooth calcification over
‘eruption’ in estimating age |
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Radiographic methods of Schour & Massler,
Demirjian et al |
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- Age estimation in adults |
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Histological methods
– Gustafson’s six variables and
Johanson’s modification, Bang & Ramm’s
dentine translucency |
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Radiographic method of Kvaal et al |
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- Principles of report writing |
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6. |
Sex differentiation |
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Sexual dimorphism in tooth dimensions (Odontometrics) |
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7. |
Ethnic variations (‘racial’ differences) in
tooth morphology |
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Description of human population groups |
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Genetic and environmental influences on tooth
morphology |
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Description of metric and non-metric dental
features used in ethnic differentiation |
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8. |
Bite mark procedures |
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Definition and classification |
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Basis for bite mark investigation |
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Bite mark appearance |
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Macroscopic and microscopic ageing of bite marks |
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Evidence collection from the victim and suspect
of bite mark |
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Analysis and comparison |
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Principles of report writing |
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Animal bite investigation |
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9. |
Dental DNA methods |
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- Importance of dental DNA evidence in forensic
investigations |
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- Types of DNA and dental DNA isolation
procedures |
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- DNA analysis in personal identification |
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- Gene-linked sex dimorphism |
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- Population genetics |
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10. |
Jurisprudence and ethics |
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- Fundamentals of law and the constitution |
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- Medical legislation and statutes (Dental and
Medical Council Acts, etc) |
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- Basics of civil law (including torts,
contracts and consumer protection act) |
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- Criminal and civil procedure code (including
expert witness requirement) |
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- Assessment and quantification of dental
injuries in courts of law |
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- Medical negligence and liability |
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- Informed consent and confidentiality |
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- Rights and duties of doctors and patients |
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- Medical and dental ethics (as per Dentists’
Act) |
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THEORY SESSIONS AND PRACTICAL EXERCISES |
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Total hours for the course |
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- Didactic – 10-12 hours |
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- Practical – 20-25 hours |
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Detailed didactic sessions
for the above components, either in the form of
lectures or as structured student-teacher
interactions, is essential. Specialists from
multiple disciplines, particularly from legal
and forensic sciences, can be encouraged to
undertake teaching in their area of expertise. |
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An interactive, navigable and
non-linear (INN) model may also be utilised for
education. |
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Practical exercises
(real-life casework and/or simulated cases) must
complement didactic sessions to facilitate
optimal student understanding of the subject.
Mandatory practical training in dental
identification methods, dental profiling (ethnic
and sex differences, radiographic age
estimation), and bite mark procedures, is of
paramount importance. In addition, practical
exercises/demonstrations in histological age
estimation, comparative dental anatomy, DNA
methods, medical autopsy, court visits, and
other topics may be conducted depending on
available expertise, equipment and feasibility. |
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Approach to teaching forensic
odontology |
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Forensic odontology could be
covered in two separate streams. The divisions
include a preclinical stream and a clinical
stream. |
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Preclinical stream |
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- Introduction to forensic odontology |
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- Sex differences in odontometrics |
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- Ethnic variations in tooth morphology |
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- Histological age estimation |
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- Dental DNA methods |
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- Bite marks procedures |
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- Overview of forensic medicine and toxicology |
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- It could prove useful to
undertake the preclinical stream in II or III
year under Oral Biology/Oral Pathology since
these aspects of forensic odontology require
grounding in dental morphology, dental histology
and basic sciences, which, students would have
obtained in I and/or II BDS. |
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Clinical stream |
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- Dental identification |
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- Maintaining dental records |
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- Radiographic age estimation |
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- Medical jurisprudence and ethics |
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It would be suitable to
undertake these topics in the IV or V year as
part of Oral Meicine and Radiology, since
students require reasonable clinical exposure
and acumen to interpret dental records, perform
dental postmortems and analyse dental
radiographs for age estimation. |
