title: Are teeth evidence in acid environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten upper anterior teeth each were immersed in 37% hydrochloric acid (conc. HCl), 65% nitric acid (conc. HNO3) and 96% sulfuric acid (conc. H2SO4). 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. HNO3 dissolved completely after 8 hours, while that placed in conc. H2SO4 retained its morphology and radiographic dimension even after 8 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hence teeth can serve as a tool in identification (age estimation and sex determination) of the victim when in contact with conc. H2SO4.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors: Makesh
authors: M
authors: Raj
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Boaz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Srikant
keywords: Age estimation; caustic acids; masking identity; sex determination; teeth
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