Bite Marks as Physical Evidence from the Crime Scene-An Overview

Introduction A bite mark has been defined as ‘a pattern produced by human or animal dentitions and associated structures in any substance capable of being marked by these mean’s [1]. Forensic dentistry is the application of dental knowledge to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system [2]. Forensic dentists are involved in assisting investigative agencies to identify recovered human remains in addition to the identification of whole or fragmented bodies; forensic dentists may also be asked to assist in determining age, race, occupation, previous dental history and socioeconomic status of unidentified human beings. Identification is done by the comparison of ante mortem and post mortem dental records and using the unique features visible on dental radiographs, including both those resulting from dental treatment and those occurring naturally [3]. Human bite marks is one among the most violent crimes tried in the criminal courts. Bites have been found in cases of homicide, attempted suicide, sexual assault, and child abuse [4]. Bites can occur on both the victim and the suspect; teeth are used as weapon by the aggressor and in self defense by the victim [5]. Although they are only a small portion of most forensic dentist’s case load, bite marks represent the most challenging aspect of the discipline. In addition to the location of the bite mark the type of severity of the injury may give investigators clues as to the mental state of the offender [6].