A simple safe, reliable and reproducible mechanism for producing experimental bite marks.

With improving technology it should be possible to develop an objective, reliable and valid method that can be undertaken by most forensic Odontologists without recourse to expensive or bulky equipment. One of the main factors that affect the physical appearance of bitemark is the amount of force applied during biting. There is little evidence relating the appearance of a bite mark to the amount of force applied and how that force relates to the biters maximal biteforce. This paper describes simple apparatus that can be used to inflict experimental bites on living subjects reproducibly and with minimal risk. The aims of this study are to report on the development of a mechanical apparatus that produces experimental bitemarks on living human subjects with a known force in a safe, reliable and reproducible manner and to relate the force applied during production of the experimental bitemark to the maximum bite force of the biter. Maximum bite force of one of the authors was determined as 324 N. Experimental bitemarks were inflicted on living subjects with known weights. Weights of up to 10 kg were well tolerated by the subjects. The relation between forces used to inflict bites and the maximum bite force of the author is reported, with 10 kg being approximately one third of the maximum bite force. The apparatus was well tolerated and the results were reliable and reproducible. The results from this study could help in determining the severity of bitemarks. This apparatus could help researchers in developing objective based bitemark analysis techniques.

[1]  Mary A Bush,et al.  The Response of Skin to Applied Stress: Investigation of Bitemark Distortion in a Cadaver Model * , 2010, Journal of forensic sciences.

[2]  I. Pretty.  The barriers to achieving an evidence base for bitemark analysis. , 2006, Forensic science international.

[3]  M. Bakke,et al.  Effects of ethnicity, gender and age on clenching force and load distribution , 2001, Clinical Oral Investigations.

[4]  M. Bush,et al.  Biomechanical Factors in Human Dermal Bitemarks in a Cadaver Model * , 2009, Journal of forensic sciences.

[5]  J. Kieser.  Weighing bitemark evidence , 2005, Forensic science, medicine, and pathology.

[6]  J. Clement,et al.  Is current bite mark analysis a misnomer? , 2010, Forensic science international.

[7]  R. Baxendale,et al.  Bite force, endurance and masseter muscle fatigue in healthy edentulous subjects and those with TMD. , 1999, Journal of oral rehabilitation.

[8]  R. Manly,et al.  A Survey of the Chewing Ability of Denture Wearers , 1951, Journal of dental research.

[9]  Allan J. Lasser,et al.  Three‐Dimensional Comparative Analysis of Bitemarks * , 2009, Journal of forensic sciences.

[10]  R. Wood,et al.  Clinical and histopathological examination of experimental bite marks in-vivo. , 2006, The Journal of forensic odonto-stomatology.

[11]  D. Sweet,et al.  A paradigm shift in the analysis of bitemarks. , 2010, Forensic science international.

[12]  L D Garner,et al.  Correlation Study of Incisive Biting Forces with Age, Sex, and Anterior Occlusion , 1973, Journal of dental research.

[13]  M. Bakke,et al.  Bite Force and Occlusion , 2006 .

[14]  H David Sheets,et al.  A study of multiple bitemarks inflicted in human skin by a single dentition using geometric morphometric analysis. , 2011, Forensic science international.

[15]  R Yemm,et al.  Twitch interpolation in the assessment of the maximum force-generating capacity of the jaw-closing muscles in man. , 1996, Archives of oral biology.

[16]  G E Carlsson,et al.  Bite force and state of dentition. , 1977, Acta odontologica Scandinavica.

[17]  R. Rawson,et al.  Statistical evidence for the individuality of the human dentition. , 1984, Journal of forensic sciences.

[18]  J. F. Bates,et al.  Masticatory function-a review of the literature: (II) Speed of movement of the mandible, rate of chewing and forces developed in chewing. , 1975, Journal of oral rehabilitation.

[19]  D Tortopidis,et al.  The variability of bite force measurement between sessions, in different positions within the dental arch. , 1998, Journal of oral rehabilitation.