What is one advantage of using dental stone in evidence collection?

Using dental stone in evidence collection offers significant advantages due to its durability and ability to preserve fine details. When capturing physical evidence, such as footprints or tire treads, it is essential to utilize a material that maintains the integrity of the original impression. Dental stone is a robust compound that retains the intricate surface features of the cast, allowing forensic investigators to analyze and compare the details accurately.

This property is crucial, as many other materials may either fail to capture fine details or could potentially damage the evidence during the extraction process. The durability of dental stone ensures that it can withstand handling and transportation without deteriorating or losing critical evidence, which is vital for maintaining the chain of custody in forensic investigations.

While other materials may have varying characteristics, such as cost or setting time, the ability of dental stone to produce a clean cast without compromising detail is fundamental to its use in forensic evidence collection.