Abstract
Certifying boards for different professions have the duty to help establishstandards and guidelines for methodologies routinely performed within thediscipline. For forensic dentists, this responsibility is placed upon theAmerican Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO). The purpose of this study wasto examine whether board certified and noncertified forensic odontologistsadhere to the ABFO Guidelines outlined in the collection of victim bitemarkevidence. A questionnaire was developed to assess the compliance and attitudestowards the typical evidence collected, the photographic documentation, andthe handling of the bite site injury. The results indicate the majority ofthe respondents in both representative groups routinely follow the guidelinesset forth by the ABFO. The lack of personally photographing the bite injuryon a consistent basis is an area of concern for all examiners. The photographicevidence is an instrumental part of the investigation and often cannot beutilized due to improper procedures being followed. The film type utilized,bite site impression techniques, and excision of any tissue samples remainan individual choice and vary significantly among each forensic odontologist.
