Forensic odontology group holds conference in Lerwick

THE FIRST spring gathering of forensic odontologists in a number of years is to be held at the Shetland Museum and Archives on Saturday.

The British Association for Forensic Odontology (BAFO) – an amalgam of forensic dentists and scientists – exists to provide education, good practice and mentoring in forensic odontology for its members.

Quite a mouthful, forensic odontology is the branch of forensic medicine that deals with dental evidence including the teeth and the marks which they may leave.

The Lerwick conference has been organised by NHS Shetland’s dental director Brian Chittick, who is a forensic odontologist.

“When I was at one of our previous meetings, so many people said that they would like to come to Shetland, so Lerwick seemed the natural place to resurrect the BAFO Spring Conference,” he said.

The 20-plus people who will be getting their teeth into the subject include one delegate who has come all the way over from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

There will be a variety of speakers taking the stage including UK forensic anthropologist Dr Julia Beaumont who will be presenting on her involvement in the forensic identification of human remains found in the Sumburgh Cists.