In a one-of-a-kind event, a massive brown bear named Tundra, weighing around 800 pounds, underwent a delicate medical procedure at the Lake Superior Zoo in Minnesota, where he received a large metal crown for one of his canine teeth. According to zoo officials, this crown is believed to be the largest dental crown ever created in the world.
Tundra, a six-year-old Alaskan brown bear, was fully sedated on Monday for the hour-long procedure, led by board-certified veterinary dentist Dr. Grace Brown. The metal crown was custom-made from a titanium alloy after the bear’s tooth, previously treated with a root canal two years ago, was reinjured. This time, a more durable and permanent solution was needed.
The crown was crafted by Creature Crowns, a company specializing in animal dental prosthetics, based on a precise wax cast of Tundra’s tooth. Dr. Brown emphasized that the extraordinary size of the crown makes it essential to document the operation scientifically. “This is the largest crown ever made, and it has to be published,” she said, noting she is preparing a scientific paper to be published later this year in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry.
Due to Tundra’s enormous size—he stands about 8 feet tall on his hind legs—unusual safety measures were taken during the procedure. A member of the zoo’s armed response team was present in the operating room, with a firearm within arm’s reach, in case the bear unexpectedly woke up. Fortunately, the operation went smoothly without incident.
Tundra and his brother, Banks, have been living at the Duluth zoo since they were just three months old, after their mother was killed in the wild. Now, Tundra enjoys a striking, metallic new smile that has caught the attention of zoo visitors and staff alike. “He’s got a little glint in his smile now,” joked Caroline Routley, the zoo’s marketing manager.
Following the procedure, Tundra returned to his usual habitat and is behaving completely normally—eating, moving, and interacting just as he did before. The successful operation marks a new milestone in veterinary dentistry and raises intriguing questions about how far modern animal care has come in recent years.
