Human Bite Mark Analysis: Review of Advantage Computer-Assisted Procedure

Forensic odontology plays an important role in the judicial field. In particular, bite mark analysis has been used as encouragement in identifying criminals and is considered one of the strongest pieces of evidence resulting from dental examination put up in the judiciary. Based on the scientific understanding that there are no two similar human dentitions, this uniqueness proposes dentition marks as a tool for the identification of the perpetrator. The procedure of comparing bite marks with suspect's teeth morphology including measurement and analysis of shape, position at arch, and size of each individual's teeth. The conservative technique of analyzing bite marks on the victim's skin or flesh or objects compared to suspect dentition by casting an impression proved to be the easiest method on the matching process. However, that comparison technique has many factors of subjectivity and distortion that could mislead the identification. DNA analysis from saliva left on the victim's skin could be valuable examinations but not always conceivably. DNA is often already damaged when examining bite marks due to environmental factors, such as time, temperature, humidity, and even mistreatment from health workers. The use of computer-assisted methods has elevated the accuracy of morphology compared, thus better interpretation. With software assisting the comparison process, such errors tend to be minimized and lift the value of bitemark analysis. This review aimed to cover advantage technique and procedure bite marks analysis, especially with computer-assisted so bite mark analysis could be stronger legal evidence accepted in court.