When Tundra, a massive Alaska brown bear, damaged his tooth—again—his caretakers knew it was time for something more permanent. What followed was a groundbreaking procedure that left him with not just a stronger bite, but a glinting, silver-capped grin. Now, Tundra’s smile holds a world record.
The Bear Behind the Smile
Tundra has been a resident of the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minnesota, since he was just 3 months old. He and his brother Banks were orphaned in the wild after their mother was killed. Now 6 years old and 800 pounds, Tundra towers at nearly 8 feet tall when standing on his hind legs—an impressive figure with an even more impressive new tooth.
One Big Tooth, One Bigger Crown
Two years ago, Tundra underwent a root canal on his upper canine. But when he reinjured the tooth, his vet team knew they needed something stronger. Enter the world’s largest dental crown: a custom titanium alloy cap made just for Tundra, based on a wax mold of the tooth. Designed by Creature Crowns in Idaho, it was fitted during a one-hour procedure by veterinary dentist Dr. Grace Brown.
A Risky Operation With a Historic Result
Putting a bear of Tundra’s size under sedation is no small task. During the procedure, a trained armed response team was on standby—just in case the giant woke up unexpectedly. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and Tundra now sports a smile like no other bear on Earth.
Back to His Wild Self
After surgery, Tundra quickly bounced back to normal. He returned to his habitat, resumed his usual eating habits, and settled back into life at the zoo with his new tooth gleaming in the light. According to zoo staff, he’s behaving just like himself—with a little extra swagger.
A Smile Worth Publishing
Dr. Brown is now preparing to publish a scientific paper on the procedure in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, highlighting the uniqueness of the case. As she put it, “This is the largest crown ever created in the world. It has to be published.” Tundra may not know it, but he’s now part of dental history—and his silver crown is more than just a fix; it’s a symbol of extraordinary care. Tundra’s journey from injury to record-breaking recovery is a reminder that every creature—no matter how wild—deserves comfort, compassion, and maybe even a crown.
adventuring, photography and videography. I am currently working towards a BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University to go on to specialise in Marine Sciences one day.
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