UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

FOR5014 Elements of forensic odontology

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

FOR5014 Elements of forensic odontology is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2020 in Semester 1 at Southbank. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2020
Semester 1
Southbank

This is the 2020 handbook entry. See the 2025 entry.

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Requisites

Before FOR5014

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After FOR5014

1 unit list FOR5014 as a prerequisite or corequisite.

Enrolment rules

Must be enrolled in a postgraduate degree.

Overview

Forensic Odontology encompasses the intersection between dentistry and the law.

Practitioners in this field require a solid understanding of all aspects of dental practice as it relates to medico-legal investigation.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with knowledge and practical skills that will enable them to apply their dental knowledge to questions of legal/coronial import, especially in the field of human identification.

Forensic Odontology practitioners require expert knowledge in areas including; injury interpretation, evidence interpretation, dental anthropology, forensic anthropology, imaging technology, mortuary practice, and medico-legal report writing.

Offerings in 2020

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterSouthbankBlock on

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Describe  the core elements of ethical forensic odontological investigations with particular reference to mortuary practice, protocols and examinations  3. Explain  human skeletal and dental development over the life span  including  forensic age estimation methods;

  2. 2

    Perform advanced mortuary procedures and protocols, including ethical treatment of the deceased, post-mortem dental examination and imaging procedures;

  3. 3

    Estimate and classify human skeletal and dental development, using appropriate forensic age estimation methods;

  4. 4

    Distinguish  human from non-human skeletal and dental elements;

  5. 5

    Outline  a dentist’s role in Disaster Victim Identification;

  6. 6

    Explain the use of  CT technology and software systems in medico-legal death investigations;

  7. 7

    Apply medico-legal report writing to the discipline of forensic odontology.

Workload and teaching

It is expected that students will need to undertake approximately 12 hours of study per week over the semester. This will include contact time, private study, assessment tasks (case studies, assignments) and, where possible, involvement in casework. Students are required to attend all workshops offered at the Department of Forensic Medicine during the semester.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Associate Professor Richard Bassed
Dr Jeremy Graham
Chief Examiners
Associate Professor Richard Bassed

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for FOR5014?

FOR5014 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

What can I take after FOR5014?

FOR5014 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including FOR5015.

When is FOR5014 offered?

In 2020, FOR5014 runs in Semester 1 at Southbank.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational unit
Forensic Medicine
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 3
Study abroad
Not available
Handbook years
202020212022202320242025