Forensic Odontology Education
Forensic Dentistry Schools & Colleges

Get FREE Info From Schools Subject: Criminology Criminal Justice Corrections Crime Scene Investigation Criminal Justice Administration Forensic Science and Technology Forensic Psychology Forensic Nursing Forensic Accounting Emergency and Crisis Management Fire Science Fire Services Administration Homeland Security and Terrorism Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Police Law School Legal Studies Court Reporting - Legal Transcription Legal Administration and Assisting Legal Administrative Assistant - Secretary Legal Office Management and Administration Paralegal - Legal Assistant Public Safety and Personal Safety Security and Loss Prevention Services Computer Crimes Cyber Security Private and Public Investigations Security Services Administration - Management Degree: - Select All Degrees - Associate's Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Certificates Diplomas Zip Code: (optional) Online Campus Both

Want to become a forensic dentist? Discover the best Forensic Odontology education options, including online & campus forensic odontology schools and programs.

The practice of forensic dentistry is ancient.. There are reports of its usage dating back almost 2,000 years, and those are just the ones that we know of.

While the study and application of identifying people based on dental information is much more advanced today than it has ever been before, the basic idea of it has been around for millennia.

As with any profession you aim to take seriously, it’s always a good idea to explore the history of your prospective vocation. By understanding where it’s come from and where it currently is, you can get a sense of where your specialty will be heading in the future. And that’s information that can help guide you along your career path to success.

History of Forensic Odontology

The most famous and brutal instance of forensic dentistry in ancient history occurred around 50 AD. At that time, Nero was the Emperor of Rome and his mother, Agrippina, desperately wanted one of her rivals, Lollia Paulina, dead. She ordered soldiers to track her down, kill her, and bring Agrippina the woman’s head as proof of her death.

The soldiers did as commanded, but when they brought the Emperor’s mother the head of Paulina, Agrippina couldn’t be sure that the dead woman was really her rival.

But when she opened the mouth of the dead woman, she was immediately convinced. You see, she had recognized the discolored front tooth of her rival in that mouth, and so she started the two thousand year history of forensic dentistry.

It may be difficult to trace that story back to its roots and legitimize it, but there really is no reason to believe it didn’t happen. People identify other people by many different physical traits—their hair, body posture, profile, and walk—teeth are just another method of identification.

But over the millennia, forensic odontology became much less of a casual observation, and more of a specialized science.

Matching bite marks to a victim became a way to provide evidence against a suspect. In the 1870’s submitting such evidence became common practice in a court of law.

Over the years the practice of identifying remains through dental records or matching bite marks grew to become much more sophisticated and reliable. With the advent of digital technology, not only is it an accurate practice, but also an efficient one.

Forensic odontology has helped convict many criminals—including Ted Bundy—and will continue to do so as the study evolves to match the needs of the future.

Getting Your Forensic Odontology Education

Becoming a forensic odontologist or dentist isn’t something you can do overnight. But unlike a forensic psychologist education, for which you have to complete seven or so years of graduate school, the forensic dentist won’t be studying a text book forever. Much of the training for this profession is done on the job.

The first thing you need, though, is a dentistry degree—DDS, DMD. This can be obtained from a great variety of institutions around the world.

If you are wary of going to back to school full time, consider earning your degrees from a web-based college or university. It’s cheaper, easier, and faster than having to pack up and move into a dorm—especially if you already have an established home or family.

Beyond those degrees, you’ll need to complete several training and educational tasks, including:

• Attending programs and meetings from approved forensic dentistry organizations
• Apprentice with an approved agency
• Apply for certification
• Pass the exams for certification
• Become recertified every 5 years

Get FREE Info From Schools Subject: Criminology Criminal Justice Corrections Crime Scene Investigation Criminal Justice Administration Forensic Science and Technology Forensic Psychology Forensic Nursing Forensic Accounting Emergency and Crisis Management Fire Science Fire Services Administration Homeland Security and Terrorism Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Police Law School Legal Studies Court Reporting - Legal Transcription Legal Administration and Assisting Legal Administrative Assistant - Secretary Legal Office Management and Administration Paralegal - Legal Assistant Public Safety and Personal Safety Security and Loss Prevention Services Computer Crimes Cyber Security Private and Public Investigations Security Services Administration - Management Degree: - Select All Degrees - Associate's Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Certificates Diplomas Zip Code: (optional) Online Campus Both

Return from Forensic Odontology to Forensic Careers

Return from Forensic Dentistry Education to Criminal Justice Careers