Needham Dentist Fixes Teeth ... of Tigers, Bears, Lemurs

Article by Laurie E. Spitz

What do a Cavy, two tigers, a bear, a kinkajou, a lemur, and a few primates (spider monkey, baboon, gibbon, capuchin) have in common? These were the patients on the roster for the revisit of the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation (PEIVDF) dental/veterinary mission to Noah’s Ark Rehabilitation Center in Locust Grove, GA. Over the weekend of July 26-28, a team of four dentists and four veterinarians converged from around the country to perform dental work on a society of resident animals and follow up with patients they worked on this time last year.

As one of the dentists on the team, Steven D. Spitz, DMD, a resident of Needham, assisted on a root canal on a lemur, extractions on a bear, and a cleaning for a kinkajou among other treatments.

“Working with the [Peter Emily] foundation is a literally a dream come true,” said Spitz. “Through my undergraduate training, I was deciding between vet and dental school. I chose dental and it was the right decision for me, but this allows my dental experience to work in an amazing way for animals who need my expertise.” On his last mission to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana, one priority was a lion that was in an extreme amount of pain, with a vertical split in her tooth. The root was exposed due to the split and open to bacteria, which could quickly spread through the lion’s entire body. Treatment was extremely painful and it was a complicated surgery. With his expertise in laser dentistry, Spitz utilized the BioLase Dental Laser for the very first laser surgery on large animals.

Spitz is a prosthodontist and owner of Smileboston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, where he treats human patients on a regular basis. However, for a few weekends throughout the year, he uses his skill to treat animals in wildlife sanctuaries and zoos around the country that are in pain and in serious need of dental care. Through his advanced work with a variety of animals over the years, Spitz has recently partnered with Zoo New England as the dentist on call for both the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

“We are excited to work with Dr. Spitz as his unique experience and expertise will be of tremendous assistance in caring for the dental needs of the wide variety of animals in our collection,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England president and CEO.

When animals of any species are in pain, they can refrain from eating, lose weight and become ill. Dentists and veterinarians from around the country donate their time and expertise to support the mission of PEIVDF by providing advanced veterinary dental services for the benefit of captive exotic animals located in facilities in the US and abroad through an increase in the provision of advanced veterinary dental services and veterinary dental education.

Steven D. Spitz, DM, is founder and principal of Smileboston Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry. Dr. Spitz is a Prosthodontist with a focus on dental lasers techniques, dental implant placement, tooth restoration and full mouth rehabilitation. Dr. Spitz has been honored as Best Cosmetic Dentist by the Improper Bostonian, and mentioned as, “One of the most reputable places in Boston for cosmetic procedures” by Boston Magazine. Smileboston offices are located in Brookline and Pembroke.