The awareness, knowledge, and interest among the dental professionals have increased in Forensic odontology, but the availability of exposure in practical application is very meagre when compared to that of needs both in the private and government institutions. In our country, increasing incidence of crime rate, unnatural calamities like train accidents, industrial fire, and natural calamities like earthquake, tsunami, floods, and cyclone result in mass causalities. Due to lack of effective and efficient coordination among the various investigating groups, many victims were mass cremated without identification. During investigation and identification of victims in any of the above devastations, the investigating officer must consider forensic odontologist as part of the team rather than approaching them as the last resort. For this to happen, proper training program should be conducted as a part of the undergraduate curriculum. This can be followed by in-depth training such as a post graduate course in Forensic odontology.
Many specialities like Pedodontics and Preventive dentistry, Oral Medicine and Radiology, and Public health dentistry have branched out based on the necessity and advancement in dental sciences. Similarly, Forensic odontology should also emerge out as a speciality course at the earliest. The Dental Council of India (DCI) should encourage and insist the dental institutions in starting the speciality course with the available manpower resources. Hopefully, in the near future, dentists can contribute their inputs which can be invaluable during calamities and in the administration of justice to the society and country.
Jai Hind