title: Observations on dental structures when placed in contact with acids: experimental studies to aid identification processes.
abstract: In a "mafia" crime case, a magistrate asked us whether it is possible to destroy a cadaver by immersing it in acids, and would it be possible to identify any residues. The aim of this study was to observe the behavior of teeth exposed to four kinds of acid solutions. The teeth were placed in plastic containers with 25 mL of acid and observed. The experiences showed that teeth are completely dissolved after 14 h of immersion in 37% solution of hydrochloric acid, while at 90h in 96% sulfuric acid, the destruction of the samples is still incomplete. In nitric acid the teeth undergo a complete dissolution in 12 h, and in 17 h in aqua regia (chloroazotic acid-hydrochloric/nitric acid 1:3). It was possible to recognize the characteristic morphological features of dental tissues and structures up until the advanced stages of degradation.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Pavia, Dipartimento di Medicina Legale, via Forlanini, 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merlati
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fassina
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Menghini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Danesino
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002102:Cadaver; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D012995:Solubility; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids