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.