INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC DENTISTRY

Course overview

Forensic dentistry can be defined as the application of dental expertise to the justice system. The most common role of the forensic dentist or forensic odontologist is the identification of deceased individuals. In the last decade there has been a growing utilization of dental odontology in mass disasters, bitemark perpetrator identifications, crime investigations, and confirmatory identification of newsworthy decedents. This course provides an overview of the scope of forensic dentistry, the forensic dental examination, and forensic odontology guidelines. The significance of bitemarks and the role of DNA are discussed. AGD Subject Code: 145 Course Objectives:¿Define forensic dentistry (odontology). ¿Describe the training required for forensic odontology and the role of the forensic dentist. ¿Discuss the examination procedure performed by the forensic dentist inmaking an identification. ¿Describe the process of dental profiling used to identify a decedent. ¿Distinguish the four categories for body identification defined in the guidelines of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. ¿Discuss the significance of bitemarks in victim identification. ¿Discuss the role of DNA in dental identification. ¿Describe the written report that the forensic dentist prepares for the judicial system.