Bite marks, oral and facial injuries--harbingers of severe child abuse?

Abstract

Bite mark evidence has been admitted in a vast number of cases in courts throughout the United States, as well as other countries. Because there is variation in the dentition of humans, if bite marks are noted in a victim, it is possible in many cases to determine the identity of the perpetrator depending on the quality of the bite mark, its age, lack of distortion and documentation. In other cases, facial injuries, including damage to the frenum and teeth in addition to the face, may point to nonaccidental injury if the history corroborates this condition.