Are teeth evidence in acid environment

AIM: Teeth are the most durable structures that resist destruction more than skeletal tissue Commercially available acids can be used to destroy the body or a part, to mask human identification. The present study examines the effect of caustic acids on human dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten upper anterior teeth each were immersed in 37% hydrochloric acid (conc. HCl), 65% nitric acid (conc. HNO(3)) and 96% sulfuric acid (conc. H(2)SO(4)). Teeth were retrieved, washed in distilled water, dried, photographed and radiographed at intervals of 15 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 3 hr, 5 hr and 8 hr. RESULTS: Teeth placed in conc. HCl and conc. HNO(3) dissolved completely after 8 hours, while that placed in conc. H(2)SO(4) retained its morphology and radiographic dimension even after 8 hours. CONCLUSION: Hence teeth can serve as a tool in identification (age estimation and sex determination) of the victim when in contact with conc. H(2)SO(4).