RESUMO
Background: Bite mark analysis has a critical role in forensic cases. Bite marks have been recorded has played an important role in the criminal justice system. Aims: Based on the fact that no two mouths are alike, this review article draws a perfect association between dentistry and law. The present review describes the history of bite mark analysis along with its classification, characteristics, mechanism of production, collection of evidence from both the suspect and the victim, comparison techniques and technical aids. Materials and Methods: Data was collected and analyzed from the literature already published in books and electronic data- base searches of PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: Forensic odontologists should be familiar with all methods of bitemark comparisons and appropriately use those methods that are indicated for the case at hand. Conclusion: Bite mark being a valuable alternative to fingerprinting and DNA identification, the analysis of bite mark evidence does have place in the courtroom aiding the legal system in answering crucial questions about potential suspects and victims.
RESUMO
Entre las pericias de identificación odontológica forense, los análisis de huellas de mordedura han representado un tópico actual, relevante y controvertido pues la unicidad de la dentición, la confiabilidad de la piel como soporte y sus técnicas de análisis, han visto un fuerte cuestionamiento a partir de una relevante casuística de condenas injustas. Mientras la literatura especializada y más actual ofrece una permanente revisión sobre protocolos y normas para la cualificación de pericias y peritos, la literatura de habla hispana no sostiene un ritmo similar, con una escasa o nula actualización de contenidos adecuados en procedimientos, investigación o reportes de casos. Dado que estos análisis ha sufrido cambios absolutos de base, y que una conveniente actualización al habla hispana permitiría la adaptación, modificación o reemplazo de sus postulados axiológicos, se presenta una revisión cronológica sobre casos y tópicos de inferencia en el análisis de huellas de mordeduras como evidencia jurídica, y se proponen y discuten nuevos postulados epistemológicos para el abordaje forense de este tipo de evidencias.
Among the forensic dental identification, the analyses of bite marks have represented a current, relevant and controversial topic. The uniqueness of the dentition, the accuracy of bite marks on skin and the analytical techniques have been severely questioned because of the relevant casuistry of wrongful convictions. While the specialized and more current literature offers a permanent review on protocols and standards for verifying expertise, the Spanish literature does not keep pace with this situation, with scanty updating of procedures, primary investigation or case reports. Since these analyses have been modified in their bases, a proper update of Spanish literature to allow the adjustment of their axioms is needed. We present a chronological review of cases and inferential issues in bite mark analysis as judicial evidence, and the new epistemological postulates for the forensic significance of this type of evidence are discussed.