| SECTION IV | BITE MARKS |
Bite marks are in the category described as pattern injuries. Pattern injuries can result from teeth, belt buckles, and other blunt objects such as a hammer or pipe. Homicides and assault and battery cases have been solved by bite mark identification, analysis, and comparison. Many bites are severe and leave telltale marks long after an assault. One of several techniques of comparison and analysis is shown here, comparing bite mark tracings to the tooth imprint pattern tracings of the suspect or defendant. Dental casts and photographs from the suspect or suspects are made after obtaining a court-ordered search warrant (Fig. 12-8A and B). Infrared photography can be used to identify subcutaneous evidence of damage from a bite mark that is not visible on the surface of the skin. Ultraviolet photography can reveal a bite mark in an area with extraneous other marks such as tattoos and skin damage.
FIGURE 12-8. Bite mark evidence. A. A photograph of the dentition of the perpetrator of child abuse of a 2-year-old girl resulting in her death. B. Models of the suspect show a distinct dental pattern that matches well to the injuries depicted in C. C. This photograph shows the bite marks on the victim depicting the relationship of the maxillary teeth as shown in (A) and (B). D. This photograph shows the bite marks of the mandibular teeth.
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