Dental Identification and Disaster Victim Identification module (FM51001)

​​Forensic odontology plays a vital role in identifying the dead, particularly in mass disaster situations. This module gives you a thorough grounding in the science and practice of dental identification, from recording teeth and interpreting dental charts to producing forensic reports and giving evidence in court. 

​You will attend mortuary sessions where dental evidence is gathered from human remains and take part in a mock dental identification. Using real archived cases from the Forensic Odontology archive, you will develop your practical skills alongside a critical understanding of the ethical and legal dimensions of the field. 

​All module materials are hosted on My Dundee, with case scenarios designed to reinforce and expand your learning. Teaching runs at around three to four sessions per week over eight weeks. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​The history of forensic dentistry and the role of dental evidence in the justice system. 
• ​Methods for recording and charting teeth and how to interpret both ante- and post-mortem dental records. 
• ​How dental evidence is gathered in the mortuary, including participation in mock identification exercises. 
• ​How to produce accurate forensic dental reports and present evidence in a court of law. 
• ​The ethical and legal dimensions of forensic dentistry, including the misuse of dental evidence. 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Assess the role of dental evidence in the administration of justice and place it in the context of the wider justice system. 
• ​Evaluate and question current issues in forensic dentistry, including the misuse of dental evidence. 
• ​Analyse dental forensic evidence and interpret dental charts to complete forensic dental reports. 
• ​Work effectively within a forensic dental team and make sound, well-reasoned judgements. 
• ​Retrieve and critically appraise published literature and produce an accurate and balanced interpretation.​

Assignments / assessments

​​Written assignment (80%) 

• ​A dental identification report based on a case scenario, including ante- and post-mortem dental record analysis. Word limit: 4,000 words. 

​Participation (20%) 

• ​Active engagement in class discussion and My Dundee activities throughout the module. 

​This module does not have a final exam.​

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Seminars and case-based discussion sessions. 
• ​Mortuary sessions with practical examination of human remains. 
• ​Case scenario exercises hosted on Blackboard. 
• ​Self-directed learning and preparation of course assessments. 
• ​Teaching runs at approximately three to four sessions per week over eight weeks.​