Quantitative Evaluation of Forensic Odontology Competency: Implications for Community Dentistry: A Curriculum Assessment Survey

Background: Forensic dentistry plays a crucial role in the identification of individuals and the investigation of crimes. The objectives were to assess the level of forensic odontology competency among dental students and determine how this knowledge can contribute to victim identification and preventive care education. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted for the duration of 5 months May 2023 to October 2023, including n=141 dental students and dentists like Baqai, DUHS, and Hamdard. The convenience sampling technique was used for the selection of study participants. Demographic characteristics, familiarity with applications, level of confidence, perceived significance of this field, and associated barriers were assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.21(P-Value 0.001). Means+ SD were calculated for continuous variables, whereas frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables. Results: The survey reflects a strong awareness of forensic odontology's importance n= 101 (71.60%) with high confidence in identifying gender and age through dental analysis. However, notable gaps were identified, especially in the recognition of signs of physical or sexual abuse in children and the legal aspects of forensic evidence. The major barriers in maintaining dental records were lack of time (n=64, 45.4%) and lack of equipment (n=63, 44.7%). The age of the participant was significantly associated with competency (p-value <0.001). Conclusions: There is a high level of interest in the recognition of forensic odontology. Nevertheless, discrepancies in knowledge and confidence levels point to a need for curriculum improvements.