title: In Vitro Description of Macroscopic Changes of Dental Amalgam Discs Subject to High Temperatures to Forensic Purposes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the behavior of 45 discs of dental amalgam of known dimension prepared from three commercially available brands of dental amalgam (Contour® Kerr®-USA, Admix® SDI®-Australia and Nu Alloy® Newstethic®-Colombia) when subjected to the action of high temperatures (200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C, 1000 °C). It was hoped to establish parameters that could be used for human dental identification in cases of charred, burned or incinerated human remains.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pseudo-experimental descriptive in-vitro study was designed to describe the macroscopic physical changes to the surface of 45 discs of pre-prepared amalgam of three commercially available brands exposed to a range of high temperatures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristic and repetitive physical changes were a noticeable feature of the discs of amalgam of each brand of amalgam subjected to the different temperature ranges. These physical changes included changes in dimensional stability, changes in texture, changes in colour, changes in the appearance of fissures and cracks and changes in the fracture and fragmentation of the sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of dental amalgam may be of assistance in cases of human identification where charred, burned or incinerated human remains are a feature and where fingerprints or other soft tissue features are unavailable.
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Arcos
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Juan-David
authors: JD
authors: Díaz
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Kenny
authors: K
authors: Canencio
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Rodríguez
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Viveros
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Vega
authors: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Lores
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Sinisterra
authors: School of Dentistry at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Wilmer
authors: W
authors: Sepúlveda
authors: Department of Basic Sciences of Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pontificia Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Freddy
authors: F
authors: Moreno
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008422:Materials Testing; D008853:Microscopy
chemical_list: D003723:Dental Amalgam