Treatment of Worn Tusks Using Metal Crowns in Two Young Captive Walruses (Odobenus Rosmarus)

Two young walruses, recently transferred to the Vancouver Aquarium, presented with severe abrasion to their tusks. The walruses were sedated, and clinical examination and radiographs of the tusks showed that the pulp chambers were not exposed. The tips of the tusks were then prepared to receive metal crowns. Vinyl polysiloxane impressions were obtained and sent to the laboratory for chrome-nickel crown fabrication. A week later, the crowns were cemented onto the tusks and remained in place on follow-up examinations.