Abstract
In this study, fluoroapatite crystals were etched with citric acid (pH 2) at 60 °C parallel and perpendicular to Apatite the c-axis. Quantitative measurements on a number of etchpits, visualized with the scanning electron microscope were combined with accurate chemical solubility studies with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, pertaining to the <i>same</i> crystal surface. Whereas the difference in chemical solubility with respect to the prism or basal plane is small, the velocity of etchpit penetration is 5 times quicker parallel to the c-axis than perpendicular to it. Etchpits and dislocations existing in a one-to-one relation, these experiments strongly indicate that the dislocations present in apatite crystallites in enamel, are the sites where the very first dissolution during the caries process occurs.
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