To assess the knowledge, practices, and training needs in bite mark analysis among French court-appointed forensic odontologists, and to compare experts with and without practical case experience.

A cross-sectional online questionnaire was sent to all 85 odontologists listed as judicial experts across the French Courts of Appeal in 2023, collecting data on training, casework experience, use of recording methods, and perceptions of new technologies such as three-dimensional imaging and automated software. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare experts with and without experience in bite mark examinations.

Forty experts responded (response rate 47%), most of whom had attended at least one forensic odontology seminar, whereas fewer than one quarter reported practical workshops specifically dedicated to bite mark analysis. Only 15 experts (37.5%) had handled bite mark cases, mainly in the context of child abuse, and several reported limited comfort during examinations and occasional refusals of requisitions. Respondents expressed a strong interest in 3D imaging and automated software to reduce subjectivity, but experts without casework were significantly more optimistic about 3D methods than experienced experts, who were more cautious regarding scanner performance on skin and interpretation requirements.

French forensic odontologists report limited hands-on training and heterogeneous practical exposure to bite mark cases, alongside growing yet nuanced expectations for technological support tools. These findings highlight the need to strengthen practical, case-based teaching, to develop harmonized protocols for documentation and interpretation, and to validate emerging 3D and software-based approaches under realistic forensic conditions.