In vitro study of the behavior of microchips implanted in human molars when subjected to high temperatures for identification purposes in forensic dentistry

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro behavior of microchips implanted in human molars when subjected to high temperatures in order to determine their functional and clinical viability and thus be able to determine if they are a feasible identification method in forensic dentistry. Materials and methods: An experimental in vitro study was carried out, NOT probabilistic for convenience, in which passive RFID (radio frequency identification) microchips were implanted in a sample of 15 dental organs (human molars) by means of a restorative treatment with composite resin (Llis) in class I cavities according to Black's classification and subsequently subjected to high temperatures (100 °C, 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °) in order to evaluate their functional viability by scanning with a Microchip Reader (VISLONE) and determine if they are a feasible identification method in forensic dentistry. Results: The samples with microchips in class I cavities resisted well at temperatures up to 200 °C, all remaining functional. At temperatures above 300 °C, all samples failed, being unable to function properly after heat treatment. Conclusions: The study found that microchips in human molars performed well at temperatures up to 200 °C, allowing them to be read and encoded. At temperatures of 300 °C or higher, they could not be read, showing their inability to function under high temperatures. This suggests that microchips implanted in human molars are useful for identification in forensic dentistry in cases of burned or charred bodies.