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Compendium of Oral Science Volume 1|2015

Original Article
Digitalized Bite Mark Analysis for the Undergraduate

Dental Students

Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera Mohd Yusof 1,2, *

1 Centre of Oral & Maxillofacial Diagnostics and Medicine Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sg. Buloh Campus, Jalan Hos-
pital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
2 Forensic Odontology, Department of Dentistry, University Hospital Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7, Leuven 3000, Belgium

Abstract
In legal system, the admissibility of bite mark injury has proven to give more positive impact when current tech-
nologies are adapted to its analysis. The early exposure of the digitalized bite mark analysis during the under-
graduate dental program is beneficial to stimulate interests and provide guidance among the professional den-
tists. The step-by-step bite mark analysis partly adapted from KU Leuven, Belgium is emphasized by delivering
the illustrated practical techniques using computer software Adobe Photoshop®. The overlays analysis demon-
strated its practicality as easy to use and offered opportunities to learn through unconventional mode of teach-
ing. The incorporation of bite mark injury analysis to the undergraduate dental learning is highly recommended.

Keywords: Bite mark analysis, overlay technique, dental education

Introduction to learn the concepts and steps involved in
bite mark injury analysis. In addition, due to
Bite mark injury has been admissible in legal
the lack of forensic odontologists in Malaysia,
court as secondary evidence. Although its use
the incorporation of this module into the under-
is associated with subjective analysis largely
graduate dental program may contribute great
due to impressions of the early works by dis-
fundamentals and interests among dentists to
credit scientific personals, the modern tech-
work on bite mark injury analysis. However,
niques seem to provide a remedy to the miss-
ing link 1, 2 . The use of overlays in computer maintaining contacts with experts are highly
recommended as the court of law required the
software such as Adobe Photoshop® is easy
analysis to be conducted in a way that fulfilling
to adapt and numerous results demonstrated
the concept of beyond reasonable doubt.
that the techniques involved were accurate
3-5
and reliable . Therefore, it offers a potential The aim of this article is to introduce the practi-
platform for the undergraduate dental students cal delivery of digitalized bite mark analysis to
the undergraduate dental students and to get

them familiarize with the techniques involve in
*Corresponding to: Dr Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera Mohd
Yusof BDS MSc PhD, Centre of Oral & Maxillofacial the analysis.
Diagnostics and Medicine Studies, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Sg. Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai
Buloh, Malaysia.
Email: yusmiaidil@salam.uitm.edu.my
Tel: +603-61266588 Fax: +603-61266103

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