Dental practitioners - Are they real patrons of forensic odontology?

Abstract

Forensic odontology nowadays became a developing science and is of fantastic importance to society. It's necessary that dental  practitioners must have knowledge of forensics. The aim of study was to evaluate the present status of consciousness of forensics  among the dental practitioners of Rohtak city and surrounding areas. Study was conducted among 100 randomly selected dentists  practicing in Rohtak and the surrounding areas. Data was collected in a custom fashion by way of a questionnaire comprising 21  questions regarding knowledge of forensic dentistry. 36.5% of the dental practitioners don't have a notion that DNA analysis can be  performed from tooth pulp, about 85% dental practitioners were not aware that they might testify as a professional witness at the court  of law enforcement. Ninety six percent practitioners haven't managed any forensic case during their practice. The number of dentists  having an instruction for the collection, preservation and presentation of dental evidence in court is even less than 1 percent. It had  been concluded from the analysis that dental practitioners from the Rohtak along with other surrounding areas don't possess the  adequate knowledge of forensic odontology.