ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 5

Not All Bite Marks Are Associated with Abuse, Sexual Activities, or Homicides: A Case Study of a Self-Inflicted Bite Mark
Warnick, AJ
Forensic dental consultant, and assistant medical examiner, Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, MI

Russanow, G
Forensic dental consultant, and assistant medical examiner, Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, MI

Biedrzycki, L
William Beaumont Hospital, MI

(Received 4 April 1986; accepted 9 June 1986)

Abstract

A case of self-inflicted bite mark during an episode of myocardial ischemia is presented. Using current bite mark identification techniques, the bite mark was shown to be self-inflicted. Self-biting may be an emotional response to pain or a type of counterirritation to alleviate pain. The recognition and documentation of this unusual case of a self-inflicted bite mark was due to the cooperation of the forensic pathologist and forensic odontologist.

Keywords:
odontology, pathology and biology, bite marks, self-biting

Paper ID: JFS12386J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12386J
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