Access to the rat mandibular molars: a facial surgical approach

A surgical technique enabling convenient access to the rat molars and their supporting tissues is described. The masseter, the body of the mandible and the alveolar process supporting the molars are exposed via a skin incision, parallel to and immediately in front of the anterior border of the masseter. Denudation of the alveolar process from attached soft tissues permits easy and accurate access to the periodontium of the molars; moreover, separation of the gingival attachment from the tooth cervix exposes the oral cavity and permits convenient and accurate access to the molars. Post-surgical healing is uneventful. The method is easy and convenient, and should prove useful for experimental studies.