Forensic dentistry enters KP’s public sector with KCD’s new department

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s forensic science landscape has taken a significant step forward as Khyber College of Dentistry launches Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s first public sector Department of Forensic Odontology, marking only the second such dedicated department in the country.

The new department was formally inaugurated by Dr Wajid Ali, Chairman Board of Governors, Khyber Teaching Hospital MTI, Khyber Medical College, and KCD. The initiative positions dental science as a critical contributor to Pakistan’s evolving medico-legal and justice systems.

Bridging Dentistry with Law and Justice

Forensic odontology plays a vital role in modern investigations, supporting human identification, age estimation, trauma and abuse documentation, bite mark analysis, and disaster victim identification. Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Wajid Ali highlighted how dental expertise increasingly complements forensic medicine, law enforcement, and judicial processes—especially in complex cases where conventional identification methods fall short.

Academic Vision Meets National Need

The department was established under the academic leadership of Prof Dr Syed Nasir Shah, Dean of Khyber College of Dentistry. He emphasized that dentists carry a professional and ethical responsibility beyond clinical care, particularly through accurate dental record keeping, which remains a cornerstone of forensic identification and legal accountability worldwide.

A Fully Functional Department with Specialized Leadership

Headed by Dr Muhammad Afrasiab Khan, a foreign-trained forensic odontologist, the department is already operational. Its scope includes undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, applied research, and provision of specialized forensic dental services to institutions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The academic and structural development of the department also benefited from the guidance of Dr Humayoun Temoor Baig, whose mentorship during the planning phase was formally acknowledged.

Strengthening Pakistan’s Forensic Ecosystem

By institutionalizing forensic odontology within the public sector, KCD has expanded Pakistan’s forensic capacity at a time when disaster response, criminal investigations, and human rights documentation demand higher scientific rigor. The department is expected to improve investigative accuracy, support courts with expert dental evidence, and open new interdisciplinary career pathways for dental graduates.

With this milestone, Khyber College of Dentistry emerges not only as a center of dental education but also as a key contributor to forensic science, public health, and justice in Pakistan, setting a precedent for other public sector institutions to follow.