Physical changes in valplast heated at high temperatures as dentures to support forensic identification

Abstract

Background: Dentures are one of the tools used by forensic experts to determine the identity of an unknown fire victim due to the physical changes at high temperatures. Meanwhile, Valplast is a widely used alternative to metal-based materials due to its physical and mechanical properties such as heat resistance. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the physical changes in shape, weight, and color of Valplast heated at high temperatures. Methods: This experimental study used Valplast heated in a miditherm oven at four temperatures namely 288 oC, 319 oC, 412 oC, and 800oC, while observations were carried out before and after heating using Adobe Photoshop, Digital Scale, and Color Reader. Results: The results showed differences in each group; the higher the heating temperature, the greater the physical changes. Furthermore, the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney test showed significant differences between the temperatures group with p < 0.05. Conclusions: Based on the results, physical changes such as discoloration, shape, and weight reduction were observed in Valplast heated at high temperatures.