Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Mar;6(Suppl 1):S77-80.
doi: 10.4103/0976-237X.152948.

Analysis of time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets

Affiliations

Analysis of time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets

Djeapragassam Parimala et al. Contemp Clin Dent. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Context: The scope of Bitemarks in forensic dentistry is widening as they help the forensic expert in identifying the perpetuator in medicolegal cases. The greatest challenge in Bitemarks analysis is the time-dependent changes produced in Bitemark patterns on various substrates at the scene of the crime.

Aims: To analyze the time-dependent changes in Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets.

Settings and design: Single centered prospective study.

Materials and methods: Twenty-five subjects were randomly chosen, and dental casts prepared. Then test bites were registered on Styrofoam sheets, overlays prepared from these test bites on subsequent days (day 1, 2, 3, 4) and checked for matching accuracy.

Statistical analysis used: The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA to compare the overlays from dental stone cast with test bites on Styrofoam sheets on subsequent days.

Results: The P value was found to be 1 which is statistically not significant implying that there were no significant time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks.

Conclusions: There were no time-dependent changes in the pattern of Bitemarks on Styrofoam sheets hence they serve as better materials than Bitemarks on human skin or food substrates obtained from the scene of the crime.

Keywords: Bitemarks; Styrofoam; forensic dentistry; overlays; test bites.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Styrofoam sheet (b) test bite registration (c) resultant bite pattern (d) unfolded Styrofoam sheet showing maxillary and mandibular bite pattern on the same plane
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Bite pattern traced (b) resultant overlay from Styrofoam sheet (c) overlay being traced from dental stone cast (d) superimposed overlay for checking matching accuracy
Figure 3
Figure 3
Bitemark patterns on Styrofoam sheet with elapse in time on four consequent days (day 1, 2, 3, 4)

References

    1. American Board of Forensic Odontology. Diplomates Reference Manual. 2013. [Last access on 2013 Dec 15]. Available from: www.abfo.org/wp.../ABFOReference-Manual-1-22-2013-revision.pdf .
    1. Whittaker DK, MacDonald DG. London: Wolfe Medical Publications; 1989. A Color Atlas of Forensic Dentistry.
    1. Dorion RB. 1st ed. New York: Marcel Dekker; 2005. Bitemark Evidence.
    1. Bernitz H, Piper SE, Solheim T, Van Niekerk PJ, Swart TJ. Comparison of bitemarks left in foodstuffs with models of the suspects’ dentitions as a means of identifying a perpetrator. J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2000;18:27–31. - PubMed
    1. McKenna CJ, Haron MI, Brown KA, Jones AJ. Bitemarks in chocolate: A case report. J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2000;18:10–4. - PubMed