title: Disarming canine teeth of nonhuman primates using the submucosal vital root retention technique.
abstract: Removing or reducing the size of canine teeth of baboons and macaques has become an accepted practice to minimize the potential for injury to laboratory animal care personnel. A submucosal vital root retention procedure was adapted from the technique of root banking human teeth. In this technique, the crown of a tooth is amputated below the level of the alveolar bone crest, and the exposed pulp covered by a mucoperiosteal gingival flap. Our aim was to disarm the canine teeth of baboons and macaques with a single surgical procedure that would preserve a vital tooth root buried in alveolar bone under normal mucosa. Our long-term objective was to develop a technique that would not require further clinical management during the life of the animal. This paper presents the surgical techniques used.
authors.affiliation: Biologic Resources Laboratory, University of Illinois, Chicago.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003481:Cuspid / Q000601:surgery*; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000662:veterinary; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000601:surgery*