THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF FORENSIC DENTISTRY AMONG DENTAL PRACTITIONERS IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA.

Objective: To evaluate knowledge and practice of forensic dentistry among dental practitioners working in the Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire among a sample of 323 dentists working in the Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. Simple descriptive statistical analyses performed to calculate means, standard deviations and frequency distributions. Inferential statistical analyses involved using Pearson's Chi-square test and comparing proportions of various categorical variables between private and governmental dentists. Statistical significance determined at p-value less than 0.05. Results: In our study 73% of the participants considered themselves to have inadequate knowledge about forensic dentistry. More than two-thirds of the participants have not been trained in forensic dentistry during their undergraduate program. Regarding the practice of forensic dentistry, only 10% of the participants handled cases of forensic dentistry. Less than 5% appeared in courts to provide evidence related to forensic dentistry cases. Regarding records keeping, 88.6% indicated that they are maintaining dental records for different duration. No forensic dentistry education was described to be the most common cause not to maintain dental records. In comparison, statistically significant differences between private and government practitioners were found with regard to investigation of bite mark patterns and maintaining dental records. Conclusions: Knowledge and practice of forensic dentistry was inadequate among dental practitioners in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Statistically significant differences between governmental and private dentists were found with regard to investigation of bite mark patterns and maintaining dental records. The most common barrier to maintaining the dental records was the lack of forensic dentistry education.