NCJ Number
80440
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1981) Pages: 211-223
Date Published
1981
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A method for analyzing bite lengths and tooth-to-arch relationships using an X, Y-digitizer and computer is described.
Abstract
The tooth outlines of a dental cast were traced on a card, and a Hawley-Bonwill ideal arch was fitted around these outlines. The coordinates of both teeth and ideal arch were then digitized, and various distances and angles relating to the teeth and their position in the arch were computed. In this preliminary survey, measurements were made on a population of 15 males and 15 females to provide a more objective analysis of the relationships between teeth and dental arches than has previously been possible. The ultimate aim of this work is to compare with confidence a dentition to the bite mark left at the scene of a crime. The measurements obtained in the study population that were most constant in both male and female groups were the positions of the teeth relative to the ideal arch (the radius lengths). On the other hand, the embrasure intervals were more variable. This suggests that when examining a dentition, a given percentage deviation from the population mean for tooth position in the arch is likely to be of greater potential statistical interest than a similar percentage deviation from the population for embrasure intervals. Tabular data, photographs, illustrations, and nine references are provided. (Author summary modified)