Additional Coverage:
- Alaska brown bear has a new, shiny smile after getting a huge metal crown for a canine tooth (nbcnews.com)
Duluth, Minn. — Tundra, the 800-pound Alaskan brown bear residing at the Lake Superior Zoo, can now boast a dental first: the largest known dental crown fitted to a bear. The gleaming, silver-colored canine tooth is a testament to modern veterinary dentistry.
On Monday, six-year-old Tundra underwent an hour-long procedure performed by Dr. Grace Brown, a board-certified veterinary dentist.
This procedure follows a root canal performed on the same tooth two years prior. After Tundra re-injured the tooth, Dr.
Brown and the zoo opted for a more robust solution: a custom-made titanium alloy crown crafted by Creature Crowns of Post Falls, Idaho.
“He’s got a little glint in his smile now,” quipped zoo marketing manager Caroline Routley.
The sheer size of the bear, who stands approximately eight feet tall on his hind legs, necessitated the presence of an armed response team member during the sedation, a precautionary measure in case Tundra awoke during the procedure. However, the procedure progressed smoothly, and Tundra has since returned to his habitat, exhibiting normal behavior and appetite.
Dr. Brown, who plans to publish a paper on this groundbreaking procedure in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, stated, “This is the largest crown ever created in the world. It has to be published.”
Tundra and his sibling, Banks, arrived at the Duluth zoo as three-month-old cubs after their mother was killed. This innovative dental work ensures that Tundra can continue to thrive in his home at the Lake Superior Zoo.