Nation’s first forensic dentistry centre in Karnataka

One of them,Dr AB Acharya,established the country’s first department of Forensic Odontology in SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospitals,in Dharwad,Karnataka in 2006. After two years’ persuasion,the Karnataka government gave its approval earlier this month to make the department the referral center,said Dr Acharya,the Secretary of the IAFO. Explaining the importance of forensic dentistry in solving criminal cases,Dr Acharya said: “This way,age,sex and sometimes identification of a person can be done within minutes. In comparison,DNA tests takes a few days.”

In the recent plane crash in Mangalore,12 bodies could not be identified. “I had approached the Police Commissioner in Dharwad to offer help,but I could not get permission,” he added.

Teeth is the last thing to be destroyed in the human body. While the rest of the body can be burnt at 600 degrees,teeth can be destroyed at nothing less than 1000 degrees. “Thus,in mass disasters or criminal cases,it is the teeth which assists in identification,” said Prof KG Kannappan,the President of IAFO and one of the first forensic dentists of the country.

The two day conference,organised by Sardar Patel PG Institute of Dental and Medical Science,Lucknow,is the first conference on Forensic Odontology organised in North India.