If dental care is so important for humans and pets, what about the rest of the animal kingdom. For those in captivity - it is just as important! Particularly now that animals are living longer as a result of advances in captive care and in veterinary medicine. Zoos and wildlife parks around the world use modern techniques to anaesthetise, clean and care for animal's teeth, just like your pet's veterinarian or your own dentist.

As you can imagine, animals such as leopards and bears don't tend to jump into the dentist's chair for a scale and polish. Instead careful planning and preparation must take place so check-ups and routine care can be completed. A check-up and dental procedure may involve many people including veterinarians, human dentists and specialists, aneathetists, nurses, technicians and caretakers. Here is some fantastic footage from the Oregon Zoo of a Sun Bear, Leopard, Sea Lion and an elephant all having their teeth cleaned.

The bears and cats generally require an aneasethtic... would you want to put your hand in that mouth?

Sun Bears

Leopard

Whilst on the other hand, the elephants have been taught to open wide for an inspection and teeth clean.

Elephant

View more great footage from the Oregon Zoo here www.oregonzoo.org/Gallery/video.htm

Unlike carnivores in captivity, those that enjoy the freedom of the wild can catch and eat their food which provides an excellent cleaning action as they of chew through fur, bones and meat.