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Abstract
This article aims to examine some general aspects of bitemark forensic analysis, considering its development by forensic odontology. Forensic bitemark comparison has been the subject of strong criticism within academic literature in the United States, concerning the methodology used, the reliability of the results and the premises based to provide some sort of scientific support. The relevance of said debate lies in the exposure of wrongful convictions based on bitermark analysis, when other scientific evidence (such as DNA) has proven the innocence of the convicted and managed their exoneration. In Costa Rica, bitemark analysis is not widely used, and it hasn’t been used in legal precedents, resulting in a limitation to examine the reasoning when evaluating said evidence. However, it’s a possibility within the Forensic Odontology Unit of the Judiciary Branch. Hence, it is relevant to appreciate the objections that have been raised in other latitudes, to ensure a correct assessment and the proper use of the legal mechanisms made available to attorneys who must question it.