Dental Science Takes Flight: UAB Crafts Prosthetic Beak for Birmingham Zoo Bird
by Birmingham Times · The Birmingham TimesMeet Beauregard, a green aracari bird from the Birmingham Zoo. Though much smaller, aracaris belong to the same bird family as the iconic toucan.
At about 3 months old, Beauregard damaged his rhinotheca, or upper beak. This trauma resulted in his losing a portion of his upper mandible. After exploring various options to remedy his injury and making adjustments to his way of life, animal health specialists at the Birmingham Zoo reached out to the maxillofacial prosthetic experts of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. This team consisted of dental prosthetist, Chris Seidenfaden, maxillofacial Prosthodontist, Michael Kase, DMD, and oral surgeon, Jay Ponto, M.D., D.D.S.
Using the same materials commonly used for dental impressions, the UAB team took an impression of the bird’s beak and created a mold. Utilizing the mold, the UAB dental prosthesis team created a model and articulated it using a dental articulator, a tool used traditionally for crafting dental prosthetics such as dentures and crowns. From this, the bird’s prosthetic beak was created.
The beak was crafted to minimize interruption to his flight mechanics and mobility by making sure it weighed in at just the right size. In addition to size and weight, the prosthetic was cast to mirror his specific beak pattern and color. Birds see in full color and even into the UV spectrum. The prosthetic was color-matched as much as possible to minimize any social adjustments and adverse reactions among his feathered peers.
Now, at roughly 11 months old, Beauregard has acclimated to his new prosthetic and is eating, interacting, socializing and flying like a normal bird of his kind.