Endodontic Treatment of a Maxillary Incisor Tooth in a Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) with teeth severely damaged by dental caries and/or periodontal disease are often managed with medication and/or tooth extraction. A common endodontic treatment for severely decayed teeth in a 26-year-old female chimpanzee is reported. The left maxillary central incisor tooth had lost its crown, probably due to trauma that was not recent, and it had a fistula most likely due to chronic apical periodontitis. The diagnosis was confirmed radiographically before treatment. To treat the infected root canal, endodontic treatment used in humans was adapted for a chimpanzee. After the treatment, the tooth was sealed using an adhesive resin composite. At 11-years post-treatment, there were no signs of recurrence of the lesion or of failure of the tooth seal. The results of this case report suggest that common endodontic treatments used in humans are also effective in chimpanzees.