Dental and Periodontal Health in Free-Ranging Swedish Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

SummaryDental data from 22 Swedish brown bears (Ursus arctos) were collected during April and May 2008, during the annual capture of free-ranging brown bears in Dalarna County, Sweden by the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project. The bears were of different genders and ages. All animals were weighed and subjected to physical examination and all were found to be in good condition. The oral cavity was inspected and photographed and abnormalities were recorded on a dental chart. One bear had mild class II malocclusion. All yearlings had varying numbers of incompletely erupted permanent teeth. All adult bears were missing one or more premolars. Tooth wear increased with age; the most affected teeth were the incisors followed by the canines, premolars and molars. Complicated fractures most commonly affected the canines. Fifteen animals had gross evidence of enamel defects, but the aetiology of these was not determined. There was a low prevalence of calculus and periodontal disease and none of the bears had caries infections. The mean pH of saliva collected from these animals was 9.75. Further studies, based on a larger sample size followed over time, will be required in order to evaluate the progression of dental disease in brown bears.