So you wanna be an odontologist?
Forensic Odontology is the application of specialist knowledge of dentistry in the possible identification of victims and/or aggressors in a case of law. So, if you think you might be at home with teeth, bones and bodies, check out our brief guide:

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Before you can even think about becoming a Forensic Odontologist, you’ll need to qualify as a straight-forward dentist.

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In order to become a dentist, you’ll need to go to dental school. Getting in is notoriously difficult, because the government applies strict quotas to the number of people allowed to enter the dental profession.

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You’ll need three ‘a’ levels - including a high-grade ‘a’ level in Chemistry, as well as a second ‘a’ level in either Biology or Physics. Typical entry grades are aBB/aaB.

Hurrah! I’m a dentist – now show me the bodies!
Once you’ve qualified as a dentist, you’ll need to do a recognised postgraduate course in Forensic Odontology before you can be added to the list of the British Association for Forensic Odontology. (See Links).

Those other forensic sciences in full
1. Crime scene processing
Scene of Crime forensics involves searching the scene for evidence, then collecting, bagging and tagging it, before taking it back to the lab for analysis.

2. Forensic photography
More scenes of crime stuff, but with a Polaroid.

3. Forensic profiling
The ability to visit a scene of crime and come up with a personality profile of the offender.

4. Questioned document examiner
The ability to recognise forged signatures, documents, and notes.

5. Personal identification
Odontology comes under this. It’s about being able to identify someone (alive or dead, victim or perpetrator) by utilising one or several methods, including: fingerprints, DNa analysis, forensic artists.

6. Firearms and toolmark identification
Matching bullets to the gun(s) that fired them.