As the world recognises Root Canal Appreciation Day on the 8th of May, Wildlife SOS underscores the vital role of advanced dental procedures in ensuring the health and well-being of rescued sloth bears and other animals. It highlights how various rescued sloth bears have benefitted from root canal treatments and are living a healthier life at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre.
For many sloth bears under the care of Wildlife SOS, dental issues are the harsh realities resulting from years of abuse. They often suffer from severe dental issues, stemming from their past lives as ‘dancing’ bears, where their teeth were brutally smashed as part of training methods used by the Kalandar community. Dental problems in sloth bears include exposed roots, rotting teeth, infections, and mouth ulcerations. These painful conditions not only compromise the bears’ health but also lead to behavioural and dietary changes.
Recognising the urgency of addressing these issues, Wildlife SOS’s veterinary team has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive dental care to rescued bears. From root canals to extractions, the team has successfully conducted various endodontic procedures, alleviating pain and improving the quality of life for these animals.
One poignant example of the organisation’s pioneering efforts for managing dental health of sloth bears is Odum, a rescued sloth bear at the Wildlife SOS Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center, whose teeth were shattered by his owner. Under the expertise of the NGO’s veterinary team, Odum underwent a dental procedure for his broken lower incisor, culminating in an extraction. Postoperative care, including pain management and dietary adjustments, facilitated Odum’s recovery, allowing him to return to his natural diet after a period of recuperation.
Dr. A Sha Arun, Director- Research & Veterinary Operations, Wildlife SOS, said, “To assess the extent of the dental damage, dental radiographic examination is most essential to provide suitable treatments. Depending on the diagnosis, necessary procedures such as tooth extraction, root canal treatment (RCT) and excision of overgrown tissues are carried out for the bears.”
Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary of Wildlife SOS, said, “Sloth bears that Wildlife SOS rescued from the ‘dancing’ bear tradition were victims of painful trauma. Many of them were found with broken teeth — they were smashed at a young age with a metal rod to prevent the bear from attacking its owner. Treating dental injuries in such cases is essential for the well-being of rescued bears.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “As part of the organisation’s medical outreach effort, Wildlife SOS is at the forefront of treating dental issues in animals in India. In addition to sloth bears, the NGO’s veterinary team is frequently called upon to treat dental issues in other wildlife species, including that of a tiger in Bellaryzoo that was suffering from dental health issues.”