Introduction

The exam of the oral cavity in zoo and wild animals, aiming to detect and to correct problems in a precocious way, should be part of a program of general evaluation of the animal health (Wiggs & Lobprise 1997, Fecchio et al. 2008). It is noticed that a detailed evaluation of the oral cavity can only be accomplished when the animal is contained chemically and, therefore, it should be part of any accomplished physical exam when the animal be anesthetized for another procedures (Amand & Tinkelman 1985). Endodontics is the part of dentistry responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of the dental pulp lesions (internal portion) when its vitality is committed or destroyed (Wiggs 1988). The selection of the treatment protocol is influenced by the clinical-pathological signs of the lesion, by the practical factors that involve the treatment, of the species in subject and of the surgeon's ability (Kertsz 1993). There is a big difference between performing the endodontic procedure on the canine tooth of a marmoset (which is approximately the size of a straight pin), and performing the endodontic procedure on the canine tooth of a male tiger (which can have the internal volume of a 1 ml syringe).

Materials and Methods

A male Goeldi's marmoset (Callimico goeldii), adult, weighing 600g approximately, belonging to the Sorocaba Zoo, presented the following clinical manifestations: apathy, anorexia, unilateral (right) swelling, ptyalism, discomfort and behavior alterations. After physical restraint of the animal, it was verified the fracture of the right upper canine tooth (103). After anesthetizing the animal we accomplished a clinical exam of the oral cavity, which evidenced dental fracture with pulp exposure of the right upper canine tooth. For the endodontic treatment of this tooth it was necessary to use pediatric materials, basically in the following way: periapical x-ray, access to the root canal with n° 6 endodontic file, instrumentation of the pulp cavity with endodontic file n° 6 to n° 15 (10 mm root canal length), irrigation of the pulp cavity with insulin needle (29G), drying of the pulp cavity, obturation of the pulp cavity without lentulo and with gutta-percha n° 15 and restoration of the access place to the pulp cavity followed by x-ray.

Discussion and Conclusions

There are no routine veterinary dental procedures in exotic animals in most of the zoos. Each case varies according to the species specific circumstances, including but not limited to, anatomy, habitat, diet, level of nutrition, and prevailing management practices of the individual animal.

References

1.  Wiggs RB, Lobprise HB. 1997. Exotic animal oral disease and dentistry, p. 538-558. In: Veterinary Dentistry: Principles & Practice. Lippincott-Raven-New York.

2.  Fecchio RS, Gomes MS, Rossi Jr JL, Gioso MA. 2008. Oral diseases in captive capuchin monkeys. Exotic DVM Magazine, 10 (2): 15-20.

3.  Amand WB, Tinkelman CL. 1985. Oral disease in captive wild animals, p. 289-308. In: Harvey C. (Ed.) Veterinary Dentistry. W.B. Saunders Company.

4.  Wiggs RB. 1988. Extraction, pulpectomy, or blunting of macaque canine teeth. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 5:7-8.

5.  Kertesz P. 1993. A colour atlas of veterinary dentistry and oral surgery. Wolfe Publishing, Aylesbury.