Resin dental casts as an aid in bite mark identification

Two techniques are presented for the fabrication of resin dental casts to aid in bite mark analysis. The first technique produces visible light cured dental casts of the suspected biter's dentition. These casts can be compared to the victim's bite marks or photographs of the bite marks. The technique is rapid and casts of the suspected biter's dentition can be made in less than thirty minutes, which is advantageous when the elimination of possible suspects must be accomplished in a timely fashion. The second technique involves the fabrication of crystal clear epoxy resin dental casts of the suspected biter's dentition. The dental casts are translucent and permit visualization through the teeth when comparisons are made to the bite marks or to tracings or photographs of the bite marks. The casts can also serve as an educational tool for a jury or juries in trials involving bite mark evidence. The resin dental casts are less brittle than dental stone casts permitting storage without concern for breakage for periods of years.