Not all bite marks are associated with abuse, sexual activities, or homicides: a case study of a self-inflicted bite mark.
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.
D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000473:pathology*; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D003817:Dentition; D003829:Denture, Partial; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000473:pathology*