Forensic odontology for general dentists

• Main Author: Rohan Ashok Gawali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Dental Research and Review
• Subjects: disaster victim identification; forensic odontology; general dental practitioners; general dentists; india
• Online Access: http://www.jdrr.org/article.asp?issn=2348-2915;year=2021;volume=8;issue=2;spage=126;epage=131;aulast=Gawali

Forensic odontology is the application of knowledge of dentistry for legal causes. Although Forensic odontology as a subject is new to the Indian scenario, its importance has been very well documented in global literature. Teeth are the hardest structures in the human body and they resist the challenges posed by nature very well. Furthermore, teeth are unique for each individual. Dr. Oscar Amoedo identified many victims of the Paris Charity Bazaar fire disaster with the help of dentition. Since then Dr. Oscar Amoedo is recognized as the 'Father of Forensic Odontology.' A general dental practitioner is central to many aspects of forensic odontology such as disaster victim identification, identification of recovered human remains, denture marking, and detecting abuse cases.