title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Ramandeep Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gambhir
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Gurminder
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Bhojia Dental College and Hospital, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Puneet Singh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Talwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Corporate Relations, Fortis Hospital, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Jaskaran
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gambhir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, National Dental College and Hospital, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Vaibhav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Munjal
keywords: Awareness; dentists; forensic odontology; knowledge; practice