Human Bite Mark – A Physical Evidence

Abstract

Forensic Odontology include evaluation of human bite mark which is a trace evidence for connecting the
assailant and the victim of a crime. Evaluation of the morphology of bite mark and comparison with the
dental pattern of the suspected person helped in providing a corroborative evidence in identification of the
criminal1. Most of the bite mark evaluated in Forensic practice does not reproduce all the characteristics
of the dental pattern of the suspected person as the complete dental arch is not reproduced on the injury
however in most of the cases the pattern of the anterior dental arches or their portion is impregnated on the
injury2. The study involved evaluation of all the injuries due to human bite over a period of nine years on the
dead body brought for medicolegal autopsy and on the subjects involved in crime brought for examination
of wounds and certification of injuries. Evaluation of the bite mark and its correlation with the dental
characteristics of the suspect revealed that the evidence is corroborative and supportive. As the number
of physical characteristics for comparison and identification became more , it resulted in a better match
between the morphology of bite mark and the dental characteristics of the suspected person3. The more the
number of imprint of teeth seen clearly on the skin the better was the chances of identifying the assailant,
however the chances of other people having similar dental pattern cannot be excluded completely.