Odontology
Sub-specialties: Criminal investigation, Identification
Forensic odontologists are fully qualified
dental surgeons who, by virtue of their experience and specialist
qualifications, have become expert in dental forensic
matters.
Odontologists practise in the criminal and coroners' courts.
Their fields of expertise include post mortem identification in
local accidents or mass disasters. They undertake the assessment of
age, gender, perinatal survival, foetal age status and similar
specialised tasks.
Odontologists registered in criminal investigation are expert in
dealing with dental evidence, usually where teeth have been used as
a weapon, biting human flesh or inanimate objects. They use the
same techniques in cases showing injury due to other
implements.
Odontologists may practise in identification, or criminal
investigation, or both. They are also used in the assessment of
archaeological evidence.
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