Forensic Dentistry as a Postgraduate Discipline: Structural Challenges, Emerging Advances, and Future Research Directions

Forensic dentistry occupies a unique position within forensic science, offering reliable solutions for human identification, age estimation, disaster victim identification, and medico-legal investigations. In recent years, technological developments—particularly in digital imaging and artificial intelligence—have expanded the analytical capabilities of the discipline. However, the growth of postgraduate forensic dentistry and its integration into routine forensic systems have not progressed at the same pace as its scientific advances. This viewpoint reflects on the structural and educational challenges influencing postgraduate development and discusses emerging research trends and future directions necessary for strengthening forensic dentistry as a sustainable and forward-looking forensic specialty.