Abstract
The limited scientific evidence in the analysis and comparison of human bite marks in skin with teeth demonstrates that distortion and cognitive bias are significant factors. The manuscript examines the extensive scientific evidence in the forensic sciences that utilise the visual comparison of crime scene evidence with reference material and how this may be applied to bite mark analysis and comparison. Specifically, the manuscript considers how the effects of distortion and bias may be limited by applying techniques used in comparative forensic science. A feature based analysis and comparison methodology is described and proposed that relies on an evidence-based rationale for the management of distortion and bias. The concept of the forensic significance of a bite mark determining whether or not the mark may be reliably compared with teeth is noted. The limitations of bite mark analysis and comparison are indicated.