Reliability of bite mark analysis as a tool for forensic investigation

Aim: 1. To determine the Feasibility of bite mark analysis in forensic investigation 2. To evaluate the Reliability of bite mark analysis 3. To evaluate the Acceptability of bite mark as evidence

Materials and Methods: Photographs of Bite Marks of 50 consenting volunteers were taken. Impressions of Bite marks, both, maxillary as well as mandibular arches of the 50 consenting volunteers were taken and dentition casts were prepared. Analysis by Metric and Computer assisted hand tracing and overlay comparisons were carried out.

Results: The findings showed that among the three methods (Metric, Hand Tracing and Overlay) Computer assisted Dentition impression overlay of complete dentition (of all three maxillary, mandibular and complete dentition involving both maxillary and mandibular phase) is the most Reliable as an exclusion criteria with Least Observer bias method.

Conclusion: The bite mark analysis has to be used for as an exclusion criteria rather than inclusion criteria. Among the three methods, Computer assisted Dentition Overlay technique is the most Feasible and Reliable method, though there are chances of minimal inter-observer bias. This is followed by Computer Assisted Hand Tracing Overlay Technique which is Reliable but has to be used cautiously due to inter-observer bias. The Metric method has proved to be Unreliable, hence has to be avoided.