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Case Reports
. 2023 Dec 27;41(3):45-51.

Reverse engineering in forensic investigations: a new approach to bite mark analysis

E Macorano  1 , F Mele  1 , M Calvano  1 , M Leonardelli  1 , S Duma  1 , G De Gabriele  1 , M G Guerra  2 , L M Galantucci  2 , F Introna  1 , V Santoro  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Reverse engineering in forensic investigations: a new approach to bite mark analysis

E Macorano et al. J Forensic Odontostomatol. .

Abstract

The study of bite marks provides crucial elements that contribute towards identifying the biter. In many cases, it assumes importance when bite marks are detected on the body of a victim of violence, but it could also be relevant when the bite marks are seen on food substances at the crime scene. In both circumstances, comparing the bite marks with a suspect's dentition can be decisive in confirming or excluding the culpability. In this case report, a bun (bread roll) with the sign of a bite was found at the crime scene. We report a pilot study using 3D reproduction of the bite mark on the bun and dental models of the alleged biter and the victim. A reverse engineering process was used to obtain digital 3D models of the bitten bun and the dental models by taking numerous photographs and stitching them together using a software called Metashape by Agisoft. The last step was to compare the bitemark to the two dental models, evaluating the spatial distance, the degree of overlap, and the degree of interpenetration. The results confirmed the usefulness of reverse engineering in forensic investigations showing the compatibility between the victim's teeth and the bite mark on the bun.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The bun found on the crime scene with the half closer to the bottom, indicating a possible bite mark
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dental arch of the victim. A: Frontal view. B-C: Lateral views. D: Occlusal surface
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dental arch of the suspect. A-B: Lateral views. C: Frontal view. D: Occlusal surface
Figure 4
Figure 4
3D reconstruction of the bun. Views from different planes of spaces
Figure 5
Figure 5
On the left: a direct comparison between the bun and dental arch of the victim. On the right: a direct comparison between the bun and dental arch of the suspect
Figure 6
Figure 6
On the left: colourimetric comparison-intersection between bitemark on the bun and dental arch of the victim, occlusal surface. On the right: colourimetric comparison-intersection between bitemark on the bun and dental arch of the suspect, occlusal surface
Figure 7
Figure 7
On the left: colourimetric comparison-intersection between bitemark on the bun and dental arch of the victim, axonometric view. On the right: colourimetric comparison-intersection between bitemark on the bun and dental arch of the suspect, axonometric view
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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