Comportamiento in vitro del colágeno de la unión amelo- dentinaria en premolares humanos sometidos a altas temperaturas In vitro behavior of the dentin-enamel junction collagen in human premolars subjected to high temperatures

Objective: To determine the behavior in vitro of collagen at the dentine-enamel junction of human premolars subjected to high temperatures. Materials and methods: Pseudo-experimental descriptive study, in vitro, cross-sectional, that determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the physical behavior of collagen at the dentine-enamel junction in 60 human premolars subjected to high temperatures (200°C, 400°C, 600°C, 800°C and 1000°C) to provide scientific evidence that allows to employ the separation of enamel and dentin as a reliable repetitive marker, useful in dental identification processes and documentation of medical-legal autopsy for bodies or human remains that were burned, charred or incinerated. Results: It was observed that the micro-structural design of reticular collagen pattern of the dentin in relation to hydroxyapatite crystals, was affected with increasing temperature. Conclusions: In general, alteration of reticular collagen pattern and the micro-structural changes of calcium hydroxyapatite (melting and sintering of the nano-spheres of octa-calcium phosphate) of dentin and enamel, explains the gradual and progressive separation of both tissues in dentine-enamel junction level.