This "Stuff You Should Know" podcast episode explores forensic dentistry, focusing on two key areas: deceased identification using dental records and the controversial practice of bite mark analysis. The episode first details the reliable method of identifying deceased individuals through comparing dental records with recovered teeth, highlighting the resilience of teeth to various destructive forces. It then shifts to discuss the widespread discrediting of bite mark analysis as junk science, citing numerous cases of wrongful convictions overturned due to flawed bite mark evidence. A key example is the Ted Bundy case, where bite mark analysis initially contributed to his conviction, contrasting with more recent findings questioning its scientific validity.
