Show Off That Grill: Minnesota Dentist Fits Brown Bear with World’s Largest Crown

When Tundra, a towering 8-foot-tall Alaska brown bear at the Lake Superior Zoo, chipped a canine tooth, he became the unlikely patient for a world-first dental procedure—and a record-breaking one at that.

Veterinary dentist Dr. Grace Brown performed what’s believed to be the world’s largest dental crown installation in June, giving Tundra a custom-fit titanium alloy crown to protect his injured tooth. The massive restoration wasn’t just a dental triumph—it was also a species first.

Courtesy photos Lake Superior Zoo

Tundra, along with his brother Banks, has lived at the northeastern Minnesota zoo for six years. The two were taken in as cubs after their mother was killed, and they’ve grown into local favorites—not to mention powerful ambassadors for wildlife conservation.

Brown bears, like Tundra, have canines that can reach up to 4 inches long. That made replacing one with a protective crown no small task. The crown itself was crafted by Creature Crowns, a specialty lab in Idaho known for producing veterinary-grade prosthetics. According to zoo staff, the crown is officially the largest dental crown ever made and placed.

Despite the high-tech treatment, the result is simple: Tundra is back to his usual self. He’s recovered well and is eating normally, zoo officials report. In fact, unless he opens his massive jaws to flash his new hardware, most visitors wouldn’t even notice the shiny update.

The Lake Superior Zoo says this milestone reflects the growing importance of advanced veterinary care for captive wildlife. Tundra’s procedure shows that when it comes to animal health, no patient is too large—and no smile too wild—to fix.