Cognizance Towards Forensic Dentistry-A Questionnaire based Study Among Dental Professionals

Forensic odontology is a field of forensic science that involves the investigation of dentition and bite marks for identifying purposes. It employs the dentist's skills in identifying human remains, estimating age in incidents such as terrorist attacks, aeroplane, train, and road accidents, fires, mass murders or disasters, and natural disasters such as tsunamis, earth quakes, and floods, among others (Disaster Victim Identification-DVI), or when facial recognition is inconclusive because dental structures are the hardest and best protected structures in the body. These structures are resistant to breakdown and extreme temperatures, and they are among the last to decompose after death. The right handling and examination of dental evidence will assist legal authorities in recognising negligence, malpractice, fraud, or abuse, as well as the identification of unknowns. This study aims to provide dentists with an interesting role in the handling, examination, and evaluation of dental evidence in a criminal justice setting. Dentists must be educated on the fundamentals of forensic odontology.Aims & Objectives: The study's goal is to assess forensic odontology knowledge, attitude, and practise (KAP) among Kanpur dental practitioners. Material and method: A cross-sectional study was done on a sample of 200 dental practitioners from around KANPUR, and data was obtained using of a questionnaire. The questionnaire used in the study has been refined in light of the findings