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 2024 in Semester 1 at Southbank. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2024
- Semester 1
- Southbank
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2024 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 you with knowledge and practical skills that will enable you to apply your 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 2024
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Southbank | Flx blk |
Assessment
- Assessment 1: Case Study (1200 words)15%
- Assessment 2: Case Report (2800 words)35%
- Assessment 3: Short Answer Questions (2800 words)35%
- Assessment 4: Oral Presentation (15mins)15%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 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
Perform advanced mortuary procedures and protocols, including ethical treatment of the deceased, post-mortem dental examination and imaging procedures;
- 3
Estimate and classify human skeletal and dental development, using appropriate forensic age estimation methods;
- 4
Distinguish human from non-human skeletal and dental elements;
- 5
Outline a dentist’s role in Disaster Victim Identification;
- 6
Explain the use of CT technology and software systems in medico-legal death investigations;
- 7
Apply medico-legal report writing to the discipline of forensic odontology.
Workload and teaching
- Teaching approachCase-based 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.
For full details of the teaching approach to this unit, please refer to Moodle.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Jan Jenkinson
- Chief Examiners
- 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 2024, FOR5014 runs in Semester 1 at Southbank.
Does FOR5014 have an exam?
No. FOR5014 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.