Forensic dentistry, from its earliest conception, is more or less an offshoot of forensic medicine, the dental surgeon being consulted only in cases where dental data and details are evident to them. With the passage of time, the role of dentistry has increased as very often teeth and dental restorations are the only means of identification, especially after tragic destructive disasters, accidents, and fires where facial configuration and fingerprints are entirely lost. Teeth, jaw bone, salivary remnants, elements from oral tissues and tissue fluids, presence of foreign bodies, sinus configuration, skull sutures,comparison possibilitiesfrom radiographs of small and specific sites of the jaws and teeth, model comparisons, dental chart comparisons, dental treatment comparison, and DNA analysis all provide an enormous wealth of identification characteristics and knowledge. This article gives the readers an understanding of the role of a dentist as a forensic odontologist and also emphasizes the need for good quality and accurate dental records. 

Key words: Forensic science; Identification; Odontology; Teeth.