PULLMAN, Wash. — Adak, an 11-year-old grizzly bear residing at Washington State University’s (WSU) Bear Research, Education and Conservation Center, underwent a root canal procedure at the university’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital after damaging a canine tooth.
They say the dental procedure was arranged after staff discovered that the chipped tooth had exposed pulp. WSU’s veterinarians stepped in to perform the procedure, as dental issues represent the most common health concern for bears housed at the facility.
Chelsea Davis, who serves as the animal care facilities manager at the Bear Center, said staff noticed the injury during routine observation and determined the cause of the break.
“We suspect Adak broke off the tip of his tooth while wrestling with his sister,” Davis said. “We recognized that this was a serious issue and immediately contacted the campus veterinarian.”
Adak was already scheduled to be anesthetized for a training session the following day, allowing Campus Veterinarian Services to examine his mouth.
Upon discovering the exposed pulp, veterinarians coordinated with Raelynn Farnsworth, associate dean and professor at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, to arrange the root canal.
Because specialized dental surgery cannot take place at the bear facility itself, staff transported Adak to the university’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
“A root canal is not something we can do at the Bear Center, so partnering with the vet hospital allows for better success of dentistry procedures,” Davis said.
Davis explained that physical activities frequently lead to dental wear among the center’s resident bears.
“Tooth issues are the number one health problem for bears. Behaviors such as sparring or chewing on enrichment items like bones and logs can cause wear and tear on our bears’ teeth,” Davis said.
“If we catch problems early, however, there’s a good chance of preserving the rest of the tooth and promoting better future health.”