Bite Marks Analysis Using Computer Assisted Hand Tracing Overlay Method

Background: in resent years, crime rate has been increased. the aim of this study was to evaluate the computer assisted hand tracing overlay method for bite mark analysis.methods: impressions of both, maxillary as well as mandibular arches of 50 consenting volunteers were taken and dentition casts were prepared. tracing by hand was manually done, and computer assisted overlay comparison was carried out.results: out of 2500 cross matches, expected result should have been 50 true positives and 2450 true negatives. in our study there were 38 true positive, 2406 true negatives, 44 false positive and 12 false negative matches in maxillary comparison, 44 true positive, 2424 true negatives, 26 false positive and 6 false negative matches in mandibular comparison and 31 true positive, 2446 true negatives, 4 false positive and 19 false negative matches when complete dentition (maxillary and mandibular) comparison was done. hence this method showed significantly high false positive and true negative cases.conclusion: we conclude that this computer assisted hand tracing overlay method for bite mark analysis helps in arriving at an exclusion rather than inclusion type of identification, owing to its high true negative cases.