Awareness and importance of forensic odontology amongst faculty members and students of dental institutes in Pakistan

Abstract

Forensic odontology (FO) is taught worldwide but was not being taught in Pakistan until recently. This study aimed to assess awareness and acknowledgement of FO amongst dental faculty members and students of dental institutes in Pakistan at the undergraduate level. Two sets of questionnaires (Q_1-faculty/Q_2-students) consisting of 12 close-ended questions were distributed in 34 public/private dental institutes. Data was qualitatively analysed in Microsoft Excel 2018. A total of 145(Q_1) and 1017(Q_2) responses were received. 98 % dental faculty members and 86 % students believed FO should be taught to Pakistan’s undergraduates. According to 56 % dental faculty members, FO should be taught as an independent subject as opposed to other members who suggested to merge FO with Oral Biology (32.4 %) or Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery (24.1 %). The teaching should take place during the second last or final year (68 %) with a weekly schedule of one-hour class session (53.8 %). Results also showed 80 % students are interested in receiving formal training. They expressed great interest in human identification and facial reconstruction. In conclusion, the dental council of Pakistan must liaise with dental institutes in order to devise a framework of guidelines or minimum requirements to deliver the teaching in FO.