National conference on IAFO on Jan 19

Chennai, Jan 12: More than 300 dental and medical professionals from across the country, will participate in the fifth national conference on 'Indian Association of Forensic Odontology' (IAFO) to be held here on January 19 and 20.

The event would be organised by the Dr M G R University at its campus in suburban Maduravoyal, University Chancellor A C Shanmugham told reporters here today. Forensic odontology was an evolving science and it would play a pivotal role in identification of individuals from unrecognisable remains in mass fatalities, carnage, accidents and carnal crimes, he added.

Observing that odontology would also help in civil cases involving dental malpractice, Mr Shanmugham said with the crime rate on the increase, especially relating to terrorism and against women and children, there was an urgent need to develop this method of science, which was strongly associated with societal cause.

Citing an instance on the relevance of forensic odontology, he said in the Lockerbie plane crash in Scotland, in which 265 people were killed, the bodies of 205 people were identified using odontological evidence.

''The 32 teeth in every person have 164 surfaces with different chacteristics and this will be useful in identifying the exact face of the person. It is more reliable than finger prints as teeth are hard structures that will not get damaged,'' he added.

UNI