======Bite Mark Analysis======


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**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Bite Impression Forensics
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  -Introduce forensic odontology with a slideshow or discussion about how bite marks are used in investigations.
  -Provide each student with a piece of wax (or other soft material) to make their own bite impression.
  -Show students how to measure distances between key points in their impressions (such as between canines or across molars).
  -Present a photo of the bite mark from the case scenario.
  -Have students compare measurements from their impressions with those from the photo evidence.
  -Encourage close inspection for unique traits such as missing teeth, crooked teeth, or irregular spacing.
  -Use a spreadsheet or data table to organize measurements and identify the best match.
  -Guide students in making a final judgment on which bite impression matches the crime scene evidence.



====Links==== 
"Bad Impressions" A Laboratory Investigation of Forensic Odontology - CambrianEd: 
{{youtube>VzU3mFvNMMQ?}}\\

Bite Mark Evidence - sciencentral: 
{{youtube>thfHB5e51q8?}}\\

📄 Make Your Own Bite Impression - Fizzics Education: [[https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/150-science-experiments/digging-dinosaurs/make-your-own-bite-impression/?srsltid=AfmBOopcHl2uraxVntcMSgCAWoAmEQ_PO2jZtu63hGkOZ-hJKHj2JS2h]]\\

📄 Forensic Science – Bite marks - Home School Science Geek: [[https://homeschoolsciencegeek.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/forensic-science-bite-marks/]]\\

====Variations====
  *Use clay, Play-Doh, or dental impression material instead of wax for making impressions.
  *Compare impressions from different foods (apples, cheese) to see how surfaces affect bite marks.
  *Introduce disguised bites (pressing harder or at an angle) to explore challenges in analysis.



====Safety Precautions====
  *Use only clean, non-toxic materials for bite impressions.
  *Ensure students do not share impression materials to avoid hygiene concerns.
  *Handle sharp tools (if used to trim wax/clay) with care.
  *Wash hands before and after handling materials.




====Questions to Consider====
  *What makes a bite impression unique to an individual? (Tooth spacing, alignment, shape, and dental work.)
  *How accurate is bite mark evidence in court cases? (It can suggest a match, but it is not always definitive without supporting evidence.)
  *What challenges arise when analyzing bite marks on skin? (Skin stretches, bruises fade, and swelling can distort the mark.)
  *Why might two different people’s bite marks look similar? (Similar tooth sizes or spacing, or lack of distinct dental features.)