Knowledge and awareness of forensic odontology among dentists in India: A systematic review

Abstract

Forensic dentistry involves the processing, review, evaluation, and presentation of dental evidence with the purpose of contributing scientific and objective data to legal processes. The present, systematic review was conducted to assess knowledge and awareness of forensic odontology among dentists in India. A systematic review of relevant cross-sectional studies was conducted regarding the level of knowledge, awareness, and practical application of forensic odontology among dentists in India. Four out of 129 studies were finally included in the present review after conducting a search of both electronic and manual scientific databases. Potential biases were addressed and the relevant data were extracted by the concerned investigators. Almost all the subjects were familiar with the subject of forensic odontology in one of the study reports. Only 12% of dentists were maintaining complete dental records in the findings of another study. Only 4% of dentists reported to have contributed to the identification of victims in a mass disaster in yet another study. The findings of another study revealed that 40% of dental practitioners did not have the expertise to identify child abuse. The results of the present review showed that the knowledge and awareness level of subjects was inadequate and that there is considerable variation in the practice of forensic odontology among dentists. It is necessary to expose dentists to the basic principles and techniques of the subject.

Teaching of forensic odontology in basic dental programmes in nine Australian dental schools: A survey

“…15 These findings were similar to those found in two Indian surveys. 2,16 This particular study in Australia 15 did not discuss how much forensic odontology awareness or exposure the dentists received during their undergraduate years. It is possible that if more emphasis or time was given in dental record-keeping and how it relates to forensic odontology and vice versa, it could lead to an overall improvement of the dental record-keeping quality.…”

Knowledge, awareness, and practice of forensic odontology among dental surgeons in Bhubaneswar, India

“…[3] Further, the curriculum of the Indian master ' A systematic review of recent cross-sectional studies regarding the levels of knowledge, awareness, and practical application of forensic odontology among dentists in India revealed inadequacy and considerable variation in the practice of forensic odontology among dentists. [9] Various other studies have been conducted over the last decade on knowledge and awareness of forensic odontology using validated questionnaires in Indian cities such as Chennai, [4,10] Pune, [11] Kanpur, [12,13] Ghaziabad, [14,15] Kashmir, [16] and the Delhi National Capital Region [17] (which are in northern, western, and southern India). Most of these studies provided evidence that there were inadequate levels of knowledge and awareness of forensic odontology among the respondents.…”

Examining the perceived versus the actual knowledge about forensic odontology: A cross‐sectional survey among dentists

“…Forensic odontology is a branch of dentistry that applies dental knowledge to criminal and civil law enforcement through the examination of dental evidence (Gambhir, Singh, Talwar, Gambhir, & Munjal, ). Forensic odontologists play a significant role through the examination of anatomical structures, dental appliances, and dental restorations (Gambhir et al, ; Srinivasa, Sujatha, Sivakumar, & Muruganandhan, ).…”