In recent years, dentistry has steadily gained more prominence in veterinary medicine, including exotic and wild animal medicine. It is known that dental diseases are among the most common diseases in captured big cats. However, so far, there is no standardized method for dental radiography in these animals. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a standardized procedure for the systematic radiographic examination of the teeth in big cats. In total, 34 big cats, including 21 lions and 13 tigers, of different ages were examined. Animals that needed treatment for known dental diseases and those that had to be anesthetized for other medically necessary procedures and dental health status examinations were included. Intraoral dental radiographs were captured with digital imaging plates designed for intraoral dental radiography in horses. Based on the intraoral dental radiography procedures used in domestic cats, both the bisecting angle technique and parallel technique were used. A hemisphere model originally developed for horses was used to describe the path and position of the x-ray beam as accurately as possible. The results demonstrated that it was possible to completely image all the teeth of big cat dentition on seven radiographs using the described method. This method can be used to acquire high-quality intraoral dental radiographs in big cats, aiding in the quick and reliable diagnosis of dental diseases.

The documented increase in the occurrence of dental diseases in captive big cats over the past decades has necessitated the need to target dental medical research accordingly. The aim of this study was the systematic evaluation of dental and oral pathologies of lions and tigers which included intraoral dental radiography. Thirty-six animals of both sexes, ranging in age from nine months to 18 years, predominantly in circus husbandry, served as the basis of the present study, and their dental health status was investigated. The preliminary report and history, adspection of the awake animal, and examination under anesthesia provided important information. Eight animals were specifically presented for oral examination because of known dental disease. The remaining 28 animals were anesthetized for other medically necessary procedures, and each animal's oral and dental health status was also evaluated while under anesthesia. In the 28 animals that underwent routine oral cavity examination, pathological changes that had not previously been noticed were found in two-thirds of the animals (19/28). One-quarter of all the animals (9/36) had no abnormal oral cavity findings. Dentoalveolar trauma such as tooth fractures and abrasion (24/36) were diagnosed most frequently. The results highlight the importance of regular oral examinations in big cats. Furthermore, the results suggest that there is a relationship between husbandry conditions and the incidence of dentoalveolar trauma in captive big cats.

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