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Special Programs Office (SPO)

Forensic Science Program

Bitemark Analysis: A NIST Scientific Foundation Review

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A diagram showing the the teeth of the upper and lower human jaws, with central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, premolars and molars appearing in different colors and patterns.
Illustration of a typical human dentition viewed in standard anatomical position.
Credit: K. Sauerwein/NIST

This report reviews the scientific foundations of bitemark analysis, a forensic technique used to compare the marks on the skin of a biting victim with the teeth of a potential biter. 

Report

Download the full report.

Background Information 

News release: Forensic Bitemark Analysis Not Supported by Sufficient Data, NIST Draft Review Finds 

    Public comment

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has now closed the comment period on the NIST Internal Report 8352-DRAFT “Bitemark Analysis: A NIST Scientific Foundation Review.” All comments received as part of the public record have been compiled into a single PDF document: Public Comments Received on NISTIR 8352-DRAFT. 

    Supplemental Information 

    Webinar

    NIST hosted a 3-hour webinar to discuss the draft report and its findings on Oct. 27, 2022. To watch a recording of the webinar visit the event page here.

    More Information

    For more information on this and other NIST Scientific Foundation Reviews, visit our Scientific Foundation Reviews page.

    Forensic Science

    Contacts

    Created July 5, 2022, Updated March 13, 2023