ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 2

A Method for Mathematically Documenting Bitemarks
McGivney, J
St. Louis University, MO

Barsley, R
Director of Dental Health Resources, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, LA

(Received 11 March 1997; accepted 11 May 1998)

Abstract

A method for describing and documenting bitemarks is presented in which the patterned injury from each arch is broken down into its constituent marks. The centroid of each mark is determined and used as a point to define the mark. Lines are used to connect each point around the arch. The length of each line is recorded and the angle formed between each pair of adjacent lines is also recorded. The ordered set of line lengths and angles is used to describe the bitemark. This format lends itself to computer storage, manipulation, and comparison.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic odontology, bitemarks, computers

Paper ID: JFS14431J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14431J
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