[The buccal approach for excision of posterior submandibular gland calculi. A report on 10 cases (author's transl)].

The authors describe ten patients with calculi in various regions of the submandibular gland, who were operated upon using the buccal approach, and review the different therapeutic procedures available. Though removal of the submandibular gland is a mutilating operation and has many sequelae when operated upon through the submandibular approach, it is still, surprisingly, the standard operative procedure for removal of posterior calculi, even though Delaire had already expressed his logical preference for the buccal approach, 23 years ago. This procedure was used in the 10 cases reported here and results were very good, and there were no sequelae. A strict operative technique is necessary, including general anaesthesia and dissection of Wharthon's duct along its whole length as the essential factors.