Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

OSAC Research Needs Assessment Form

Title of research need:

Keywords:

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date Approved:

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background information:

1. Description of research need:

2. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need:

3a. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

A foundational and critical need in the bitemark analysis discipline is validation of reliability of the methods used in 

current practice. A number of such studies have been done in the past, but several of these have been criticized as 

poorly designed and/or poorly executed. A re-assessment of several of these previous studies in this area is warranted 

in order to determine whether or not the conclusions were valid, as they form a core group of documents that are 

referred to often. Further research is needed in order to assess the reliability and validity of the methods currently 

used in the field, and to help identify new methods that might be used in the future. 

2011_multiple 

bitemarks single den 

2011_Dental Shape 

Match Rates-2D_She 

2010_The 

application of Affine 

2010_Similarity and 

match rates-human 

2010_Reconst of 

Deformed BM using 

2010_Mathematical 

Matching-Affine me 

2010_Inquiry into 

Sc. Basis for BM Prof 

2009_Uniqueness 

of dentition impress 

2009_Skin-Stress-Bi

temark Distortion_Bu 

2009_Response of 

Skin-Stress-Bitemark 

2011_Statistical 

Evidence for the Sim 

2011_Stat Ev 

Similarity of the Hum 

This threshold research is needed to help provide the statistical foundation for the bitemark 

discipline, a foundation which is currently absent.

Reliability of Bitemark Analysis Methodology

Bitemark, patterned injury, reliability

Odontology 8/24/16
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

3b. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

3c. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

4. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): 

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.

Major gap 

in current 

knowledge

Minor gap 

in current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research 

is being 

conducted

I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted

II IV

This is threshold research that is needed regarding the very foundation of bitemark analysis.

This research deals with the basic issue of reliability and credibility of proffered scientific evidence. 

 I
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

// Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of subcommittee. Once approved, forward to SAC.)

1. Does the SAC agree with the research need? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

2. Does the SAC agree with the status assessment? Yes ⃝ No ⃝

If no, what is the status assessment of the SAC:

Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of SAC. Once approved, forward to NIST for posting.)

Subcommittee

SAC