BAFO - The British Association for Forensic Odontology

Bite Marks Precis (1970s)

Hodson JJ., (1970)

Forensic odontology and its role in the problems of the police and forensic pathologist.
Med Sci Law; 10(4):247-51
Paper outlines the value of forensic dentistry to the police. Recommends the type of dentists who should be called to assist. Summarises with case reports including a bitemark case on two young children.

Levine LJ, Beaghler RL., (1970)

Forensic odontology - a routine case and commentary.
NY State Dent J; 36(9):539-42
This paper, written for the general practitioner, mentions bitemarks only in passing. The majority of the paper is devoted to an identification case.

Furness J., (1970)

Dental evidence in a case of rape.
Probe; 11:221-22
Case report describing a bite to the nose of an assailant.

DeVore DT., (1971)

Bitemarks for identification? A preliminary report.
Med Sci Law; 11(3):144-5
Author used ink models to place marks on living volunteers and cadavers. Photographs of the marks were taken in several body positions. Skin from the cadavers bearing the ink was excised. Paper concludes that there is a large margin of error in using bitemark photographs and unsecured excised skin. States that the exact position of the body when bitten must be known and replicated. A useful study. Little attention has been paid to this paper that encourages caution when examining bite injuries.

MacDonald DG, MacFarlane TW., (1972)

Forensic odontology. Report of a case involving bitemarks.
Glasg Dent J; 3(1):16-9
Case report of a bitemark on a living victim.. 6

Stoddart TJ., (1973)

Bitemarks in perishable substances.
Br Dent J; 135(6):285-7
A method of producing permanent models. A method for producing accurate models of bitten materials, silicone impression material is recommended. Technique described is still applicable today.

Butler OH., (1973)

The value of bitemark evidence.
Int J Forens Dent; 1(1):23-4
Written by a police officer, this paper discusses the types and presentation of dental evidence.

Woolridge ED., (1973)

Significant problems of the forensic odontologist in the USA.
Int J Forens Dent; 2(1):6-12
Describes some of the legal issues that surround forensic dentistry. This topic has been addressed in more contemporary articles.

Marshall W., (1974)

Bitemarks in apples - forensic aspects.
Criminol; 9(32):21-34
Paper describes the stability and usefulness of bites in a variety of different types of apple.

Sims BG, Grant JH, Cameron JM., (1973)

Bitemarks in the 'battered baby' syndrome
Med Sci Law; 13(3):207-10
Describes the frequent occurrence of bite injuries in child abuse cases and presents three cases.

Simon A, Jordan H, Pforte K., (1974)

Successful identification of a bitemark in a sandwich.
Int J Forens Dent; 2:17-2
Case report describing a bitemark in a sandwich.

Jonason CO, Frykholm KO, Frykholm A., (1974)

Three dimensional measurement of tooth impression of criminological investigation.
Int J Forensic Dent; 2(6):70-8
Use of a stereomicroscope to measure the three dimensional aspects of bitemarks. Later repeated using scanning electron microscopy.

Clift A, Lamont CM., (1974)

Saliva in forensic odontology.
J Forens Sci Soc; 14(3):241-5
Describes the methods for collecting and analysing saliva for the determination of blood groups. Influential paper, although now superseded by DNA work.

Dinkel EH Jr., (1974)

Use of bitemark evidence as an investigative aid.
J Forens Sci; 19(3):535-47
Reviews the current (74) literature dealing with the handling and examination of bitemarks. Includes a discussion of the legal implications of the time. Case reports described. Comprehensive, and describes areas in which improvement must be made.

Barbanel JC, Evans JH., (1974)

Bitemarks in skin - mechanical factors.
J Forensic Sci Soc; 14(3):235-8
Describes the mechanical factors used to produce a bite, including tongue pressure and suction. States that the properties of particular skin area bitten may affect the appearance of a bitemark. Clear and concise coverage of the topic that has not been addressed since.

Millington PF., (1974)

Histological studies of skin carrying bitemarks.
J Forensic Sci Soc; 14(3):239-40
Histological examination of bites from both living and deceased individuals. States that complete recovery of a bite injury may take 2 or 3 weeks. States that the use of histology in determining the time of the injury may be helpful. The ageing of wounds, and in particular bitemarks, is still debated.

MacDonald DG., (1974)

Bitemark recognition and interpretation.
J Forensic Sci Soc; 14(3):229-33
Describes a method of classification of bitemarks based on their aetiology.

MacFarlane TW., MacDonald DG, Sutherland DA., (1974)

Statistical problems in dental identification.
J Forensic Sci Soc; 14(3):247-52
Discusses the issue of the individuality of the human dentition and describes an experiment to determine this. Authors conclude that their preliminary data supports the notion that human teeth are unique to an individual level. Surprisingly, considering the importance of this issue to forensic dentists, this paper has been somewhat ignored and may be worth revisiting.

Ruddick RF., (1974)

A technique for recording bitemarks for forensic studies
Med Biolo Illus; 24(3):128-9
Describes the use of alternative light sources for the enhancement of bitemark injuries. A subject of interest to many forensic dentists.

Sognnaes RF, Therrell R., (1975)

Bitemark lesions in human skin caused by an unequivocally identified 'suspect'.
J Cal Dent Assoc; 3(10):50-3
Describes an accidental bite caused by a child on her father.

Solheim T, Leidal TI., (1975)

Scanning electron microscopy in the investigation of bitemarks in foodstuffs.
Forensic Sci; 6(3):205-15
In this study students with no obvious irregularities on their anterior teeth were asked to bite various foodstuffs. Using SEM the marks were analysed and the authors concluded that as many individual characteristics were visible the technique was useful in forensic investigations. An interesting technique, although infrequently used in case work.

Whittaker DK., (1975)

Some laboratory studies on the accuracy of bitemark comparisons.
Int Dent J; 25(3):166-71
Author studied bites in wax and on pig skin. Found that those on pig skin were less reliable than those on wax in terms of biter identification. Extrapolates that bites on human skin may be similarly unreliable; offers a warning that more research is required. Highly cited paper - often regarded as one of the first attempts to validate the science of bitemark analysis. Warning went unheeded.

Whittaker DK, Watkins KE, Wiltshire J., (1975)

An experimental assessment of the reliability of bitemark analysis.
Int J Forensic Dent; 3:2-7
Same paper as described above - republished with some editorial differences and apparently two new authors.

Bang G., (1976)

Analysis of tooth marks in a homicide case.
Acta Odontol Scand; 34(1):1-11
Observations by means of visual description, stereo-photography, scanning electron microscopy and stereometric graphic plotting. Author was asked to re-examine a bitemark case involving an injury to a breast. Using novel techniques, including SEM, the author found that the originally convicted individual was the likely biter.

Anderson WR, Hudson RP., (1976)

Self inflicted bitemarks in battered child syndrome.
Forens Sci; 7(1):71-4
Victim of child abuse victim had bitemarks on both arms. Authors demonstrated that the bite was from the victim. Importance of this phenomenon in evaluation of bite injuries is discussed. Used transparent overlays in analysis. Established that bites can be self-inflicted.

MacDonald DG, Laird WR, (1976)

Bitemarks in a murder case.
Int J Forensic Dent; 3(10):26-30
Case report describing a murder involving a bite to the abdomen and breast. Authors describe the use of statistics to determine the number of individuals capable of producing the bite. Statistical evidence was presented in court. Use of statistics is interesting in this case. Arrived at a figure of 1 in 62 million. It must be noted that approximately half of the Scottish population were edentulous at this time.

Sognnaes RF., (1976)

Dental science as evidence in court.
Int J Forensic Dent; 3(9):14-6
Describes some applications of forensic dental techniques in court.

Mills PB., (1976)

An unusual case of bitemark identification.
Int J Forensic Dent; 3:38-9
Describes a bitemark on a bullet.

Vale GL, Sognnaes RF, Felando GN, Noguchi TT., (1976)

J Forensic Sci; 21(3):642-52
Unusual three-dimensional bitemark evidence in a homicide case. Describes a case of bitemark identification. Bite was on victim's nose. Authors concluded a positive match and this became the first case in Californian Law using bitemark evidence.

Goodbody RA, Turner CH, Turner JL., (1976)

The differentiation of toothed marks: report of a case of special interest.
Med Sci Law; 16(1):44-8
Discusses the differences between bite injuries and "toothed" injuries such as those made by a saw. Used acetate film to compare to a suspect's dentition.

Levine LJ, (1977)

Bitemark evidence.
Dent Clin N Amer; 21(1):145-158
Review followed by numerous case reports.

Sognnaes RF., (1977)

The case for better bite and bitemark preservations.
Int J Forensic Dent; 4(13):17-20
Describes the excision of skin and the use of elastomeric impression materials for the preservation of bitemark evidence.

Kerr NW., (1977)

Apple bitemark identification of a suspect.
Int J Forensic Dent; 4:20-23
Simple case report of a bitemark in an apple found after a house break-in.

Sognnaes RF., (1977)

Battered child death involving enigmatic bitemark evidence.
J Cal Dent Assoc; 4:22-8
Cases report describing bitemark evidence in a child abuse case. Describes comparison technique and the legal outcome. Uses SEM.

Sognnaes RF., (1977)

Forensic stomatology. Three part series.
New Eng J Med; 296:79-85
Sognnaes reviews the forensic literature in a three part series as part of the Medical Progress section. Various methods of forensic evaluation of bitemarks are discussed.

Sognnaes RF., (1978)

Forensic oral measurements.
Dental Survey; 54(12):12-24
A review of the "state-of-the-art" of forensic dentistry.

Beckstead JW, Rawson RD, Giles W., (1979)

Review of bite mark evidence.
JADA; 99(1):69-74
A general review.

Morrison HL., (1979)

Psychiatric observations and interpretations of bite mark evidence in multiple murders.
J Forens Sci; 24(2):492-502
Interesting paper in which the author describes over 400 hours of contact time with a serial murder who bit many of his victims. Whilst not answering "why do people bite?" author raises interesting questions. The psychological aspects of bitemarks are yet to be firmly established.

Rawson RD, Bell A, Kinard BS, Kinard JG, (1979)

Radiographic interpretation of contrast-media-enhanced bite marks.
J Forens Sci; 24(4):898-901
Describes a techniques of radiographing soft -tissue that has been removed from cadavers. Study used postmortem bites.