Overcoming Challenges Faced by Forensic Odontologist: An Attempt in Creating Antemortem Data Khatoon Hajira1,*, Renuga S2, Kulkarni Meghashyama3, Verghese Rhea4 1Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India 2Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India 3Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India 4Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Author : Dr. Hajira Khatoon, Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bengaluru-560002, Karnataka, India, Phone : +91-7795457544, E-mail: hajukhatoon@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 July, 2023. Abstract Introduction The basic essence of forensic odontology involves comparing a person’s ante mortem and postmortem data in order to identify them and solve disputes.Collection of ante mortem data is the most difficult task faced by the forensic odontologist in a country like India where the practice of maintaining dental case record by practitioners is not customary. Hence, we have thought of a novel approach that helps in collecting ante mortem dental data of the patients whenever they visit a dental clinic and uploading the same on a centralized website by linking the data to a nationalized identity proof like Aadhaar card of the patient. Aim of the study The aim of this study is to propose a universal odontogram that must be linked to a nationalized identity proof like the Aadhaar card of a person that can be used in future to collect antemortem data from all patients who visit the dental clinics and hospitals. Material and Methods A questionnaire comprising of 20 questions was prepared in order to know the views of 304 subjects including dental under graduate students, post graduate students and dental practitioners or academicians on proposing a compulsory universal odontogram and linking it with Aadhaar card, the various constituents of the odontogram, and the need for training the dentists in collection of antemortem data. Results 16 out of 20 questions had a significant p value indicating that this approach of creating antemortem data is plausible and logical. Discussion Till date, in India there is no single registry for maintaining dental records. Not just in forensics but dental records also are first line of defense for the dentist in general. As the Aadhaar card is linked with the biometrics, it can easily be retrieved and utilized under situations of disputes following which dental records can be matched Top Keywords Antemortem Data, Dental Records, Forensic Odontologist, Mass Disaster, Odontogram, Postmortem Data. Top |