Obturation materials aiding in forensic assessment of an individual after incineration at different temperatures

The forensic odontologist utilizes the human dentition throughout each stage of dental evaluation, restorations and root canal treatment are as unique as fingerprints, and their radiographic morphology, as well as the types of filling materials, are often the main feature for identification. The detection of root canal filling materials and its properties is a valuable toolmark in the presumptive identification of the dentition of a burned victim. Thermo plasticized gutta purcha, b-fill, obtura III, MTA and MTA fillapex have a different resistance to prolonged high temperature. Therefore, the identification of burned bodies can be correlated with adequate qualities and quantities of the traces. Most of the odontogenic examination relies heavily on the existence of the obturating materials as well as the relationship of one dental structure to another. This greatly narrows the research for the final identification that is based on postmortem data. The purpose of this study is to examine the materials integrity and tooth integrity to variable temperature and duration, for identification. The crowns were fabricated (n = 10) with one of the following materials Group 1: Thermo plasticized gutta percha, Group 2: B- fill, Group 3: Obtura III, Group 4: MTA and Group 5: MTA Fillapex. Crowns were heated in the furnace to 200°C, 400°C and 600°C during different time intervals and assess for surface characteristics based on visual image analysis. The MTA fillapex used in this study proved to be more resistible to heat, and it proves to be the better material of choice as a forensic tool since it did not show much of a change in the morphology even at the higher temperature compared to other materials.