title: Effects of skin elasticity on bite mark distortion.
abstract: Bite marks have been reported to have an evidentiary value similar to fingerprints. We believed bite mark distortion would impact the accuracy and reliability of bite mark interpretation. Inked denture-stamps were substituted for actual bite marks and were placed onto 40 participating volunteers' shoulders. Four changes in arm position were photographed using an ABFO #2 reference scale. The measurements of individual tooth widths and intercanine distances in each position were compared. The maximum tooth width distortion observed was 53.8%, whereas the maximum intercanine distance distortion was 41.9%. Distortion was found to increase with age and weight and was non-uniform across a dental arch.
authors.affiliation: 8500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA, United States. Electronic address: doclewis99@aol.com.
authors.forename: Cheri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: California State University, Los Angeles School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, 1800 Paseo Rancho Castilla, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States. Electronic address: LAQuinn48@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leonor A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marroquin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bite marks; Forensic odontology; Skin elasticity