A comparative study of three commonly used two-dimensional overlay generation methods in bite mark analysis.

Aim: The present study attempts to compare the bite mark overlays generated by three different methods. The objectives of the study were to compare the three commonly used techniques for overlay generation and to evaluate the interobserver reliability in assessing bite marks by these methods.

Materials and Methods: Overlays were produced from the biting surfaces of six upper and six lower anterior teeth of 30 dental study models using the following three methods: (a) Hand tracing from wax impressions, (b) radiopaque impression method and (c) computer-based method.

Results: The computer-based method was found to be the most accurate method. Of the two hand tracing methods, radiopaque wax impression method was better than the wax impression method for overlay generation.

Conclusions: It is recommended that forensic odontologists use computerized method, but the use of hand tracing overlays in bite mark comparison cases using radiopaque wax impression method can also be done where sophisticated software and trained persons in forensic odontology are not available.