Medico-Legal Update
  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 1

Bite Marks: An Indispensible Tool for Forensic Odontological Evidence

  • Author:
  • M. K. Sunil1,, Upender Malik2, Sourav Malhotra3, Arishah Gulzar4, Radhika Sharma5
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • Page Number: 42 to 46

1Prof and Head, Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Center, Moradabad

2Reader, Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Center, Moradabad

3Dental Surgeon, Jammu tawi

4PG Student, Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Center, Moradabad

5Senior Lecturer, Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Center, Moradabad

*Corresponding Author: Dr. M. K. Sunil Prof and Head Dept of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Teerthankar Mahaveer Dental College and Research Center, Moradabad, Email: preethipranav2001@gmail.com

Online published on 28 February, 2019.

Abstract

Forensic odontology has gained wide acceptance in the field of criminal justice because no two people have identical teeth. Presence of physical evidence such as bite-marks in cases of rape, murder and violence are considered very valuable. These are considered to be an expression of dominance, rage and animalistic behavior.

Bite-marks are the commonest form of dental evidence presented in criminal court in rape cases. These marks are also valuable in determining the type of physical abuse and age bracket of the criminal.

With increase in criminal cases like rapes the use of bite-marks as Forensic odontological evidence in nailing the culprits truly points out the important role odontology plays in field of criminal justice. This review highlights the importance of bite-marks as indispensible Forensic odontological evidence in rape cases.

Keywords

Forensic odontology, Bite marks, Rape, Identification, Crime