Forensic Odontology: Bite Marks, Age Estimation, and the London Atlas

This mock covers five foundational areas of forensic odontology. The first section examines human versus animal bite marks, addressing arch shape, wound morphology, inter-canine width, severity classification by the Levine system, and the ABFO No. 2 photographic scale. The second section introduces dental age estimation principles, explaining why enamel outlasts other biological tissues and which method produces the tightest sub-adult age range. The third section covers the Demirjian eight-stage scoring system applied to seven permanent teeth in the lower left mandible, and the London Atlas published by AlQahtani, Hector, and Liversidge in 2010 using a documented skeletal reference collection at the Natural History Museum. The fourth section covers adult dental age methods including Gustafson's six-criterion regressive scoring, root transparency, Kvaal's non-invasive pulp-to-root width ratio on periapical radiographs, cementum annulation counting annual bands under transmitted-light microscopy, and aspartic acid racemisation measuring the D/L ratio in dentine collagen. The fifth section addresses age estimation in the living, covering the AGFAD triad combining physical examination, skeletal maturity imaging, and dental panoramic radiograph, the 18-year legal threshold in asylum casework, and the ethical problem of radiation exposure without clinical benefit.

This test suits students and practitioners in forensic odontology, forensic medicine, and forensic anthropology, and professionals who work with dental evidence in criminal and civil proceedings. It supports preparation for postgraduate forensic science programmes.

Topics covered:

• Human versus animal bite-mark features and Levine classification
• ABFO No. 2 scale and inter-canine width metrics
• Enamel preservation and the Mohs hardness scale
• Demirjian eight-stage scoring in the lower left mandible
• London Atlas reference collection and developmental scoring
• Gustafson six regressive criteria and root transparency
• Kvaal radiographic method and cementum annulation
• Aspartic acid racemisation and the 18-year legal threshold

All questions are single-concept recall at the foundational level. Allow 30 minutes.