title: A call for a new speciality: Forensic odontology as a subject.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forensic science is defined as a discipline concerned with the application of science and technology to the detection and investigation of crime and administration of justice, requiring the coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team. Dental identification remains one of the most reliable and frequently applied methods of identification. Hence, it can be defined as the science that deals with evidence from the dental and oral structures and is a specialty in itself.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the level of awareness of Forensic Odontology amongst the individuals from the field of dentistry with the help of a survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was prepared and a survey was conducted with a sample size of 200 divided in four groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Revealed inadequate knowledge, poor attitude, and lack of practice of forensic odontology prevailing among the dentists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study reflects the current situation of our country in the field of forensic odontology, which could be improved by introducing forensic odontology as a subject in the dental curriculum at both the undergraduate and the post-graduate levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S. Center for Dental Studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadhwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S. Center for Dental Studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Devi Charan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S. Center for Dental Studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S. Center for Dental Studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kaveri Surya
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S. Center for Dental Studies and Research, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Attitude; dental practitioners; forensic odontology; knowledge