Zoo Animal Gets World's Largest Titanium Tooth in Record-Breaking Operation
The beloved zoo shared on social media that Dr. Grace Brown, a board-certified veterinary dentist who performed a root canal on the same tooth two years ago, performed the hours-long procedure.
Tundra, a 6-year-old Alaskan brown bear weighing 800 pounds who can reach upwards of 8 feet tall when standing up on two legs, was sedated for the procedure that gave him the largest dental crown ever created. The Associated Press reports that while Tundra was under sedation, a member of the zoo's trained armed response team was present in the room and on guard in the event Tundra woke up in the middle of the procedure. Thankfully, the procedure concluded before Tundra emerged from his slumber.
Tundra is now back in his habitat. In a sign of great news, the bear is behaving and eating normally. The AP reports that Tundra and his sibling, Banks, have been at the zoo since they were 3 months old, after their mother was killed."Tundra the Brown Bear just made dental history!We're thrilled to share that Tundra has officially received the first-ever full metal crown placed on a bear—and it's also the largest veterinary crown ever created in the world! 👑😲," the zoo's Instagram caption read. "Tundra first fractured his tooth back in 2023. After a successful root canal, he reinjured the area—so this massive, custom-made crown was created to keep that tooth protected for the rest of his life."
"He's got a little glint in his smile now," Caroline Routley, the zoo's marketing manager said, via The AP.
Zoo Animal Gets World's Largest Titanium Tooth in Record-Breaking Operation first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 1, 2025
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