Bite marks

Abstract

This chapter considers the features of bite marks and outlines their class and individual characteristics. It describes the process of wide biting, correlating this with features of bite mark injuries, including the individuality of the dentition and accuracy of transfer of details of teeth to the injury. It discusses imaging for bite‐mark examination, and gives a full description of the process of undertaking a case, including case selection, clinical appointments with the victim and suspect(s), analysis of the evidence and the process of bite‐mark comparison. It discusses court presentation of bite‐mark evidence, sources of potential distortion and error, emphasises the limitations of bite‐mark analysis and discusses reporting the outcomes of a bite‐mark case, ageing the biter from the dimensions of the injury, visually ageing bite‐mark injuries and guidelines for DNA swabbing. It concludes by examining the future directions that bite‐mark analysis might take.