Bite Marks Analysis - An Innovative Computer Assisted Approach for Gender Determination

Background: Bite mark analysis is an imperative area of forensic odontology and considered the
commonest form of dental evidence presented in the criminal court. The process of comparing bite
marks with a suspect’s dentition includes analysis and measurement of shape, size and position of an
individual’s teeth. The present study was aimed to evaluate the bite marks of males and females
using a novel indirect computer assisted method and explicate its application in forensic odontology.
Materials and Methods: 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) with normal occlusion were included
in the present study. Bite registrations were obtained with help of modelling waxes and positive replica
prepared with dental stone and barium powder. Intra oral periapical radiographs were taken for the
same. The radiographs obtained were scanned and analyzed by measuring tools using Sidex is next
generation software. Intercanine distance (ICD), line AB, angle ABX and angle ABY were measured.
Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to compare the bite marks of males and females.
Results: The mean ICD of males and females was found to be 32.95 mm and 29.84 mm respectively
and statistically highly significant with a p value < 0.001. The mean ICD, line AB and angle ABX were
found to be higher in males when compared to females.
Conclusion: Analysis of bite marks using this novel computer assisted method is a simple, reliable,
easily reproducible and economical technique with confidentiality of identity of the participants
involved.