Ventral transorbital apicoectomy of the maxillary second and third molar teeth in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus): 26 cases

A common cause of teeth malocclusion and feeding disorders in guinea pigs is macrodontia and odontogenic abscesses. If the changes affect the maxillary second or third molar teethwhose apices are located at the base of the orbit, surgical access to them has so far been achieved through enucleation or orbital evisceration. The study aims to demonstrate a transorbital surgical approach to the apices of the maxillary molar teeth (M2 and M3) in guinea pigs, allowing preservation of the eye. Twenty six apicoectomies of maxillary M2 and M3 were performed. The skin was incised above the dorsal surface of the zygomatic arch below the lower eyelid at the level of the orbicularis oculi muscle. After dissection of the soft tissue, the orbital ligament was incised, and the eye bulbus was displaced dorsolaterally. The blunt dissection of the space between the salivary and zygomatic glands allowed direct access to the affected teeth apices. The apicoectomy was performed with a dental bur. After the procedure, the soft tissues and the eye were approximated back to their original position and the skin was sutured. Recovery was uneventful in all cases. The described method may be applied in cases where it is necessary to perform maxillary second and/or last molar tooth apicoectomy while avoiding damage to the eyeball. Care must be taken to protect the corneal surface of the affected eye.