Knowledge and attitude among senior dental students on forensic dentistry: A survey

Abstract

Aim: To assess the knowledge and attitude among senior dental students in Chennai, India, on forensic odontology. Materials and methods: A questionnaire-based study was conducted among 400 senior dental students across four colleges in Chennai. Fifteen questions were formulated and circulated. Results: Majority of the population surveyed have reported to have received formal education in forensic odontology. However, most of them claimed to have inadequate knowledge due to lack of exposure pertaining to the scope, avenue, and importance related to this field. Conclusion: The questionnaire survey has determined that though senior dental students have received some training in forensic odontology, they report that their knowledge is not adequate. They also felt that more importance to this field might improve the scope in India and abroad. Clinical significance: There is a need for forensic dentistry to achieve its full potential, especially in India. Forensic odonto logists serve as expert witnesses in the court of law for identification and investigation of crimes. This field, flourishing abroad, is still in an infant stage in India due to the lack of proper awareness among students, and probably not encouraged as much as the other clinical fields in dentistry.