The world’s first ѕᴜгɡeгу! Bald Eagle’s Beak Repaired with Human Tooth Fillings in Alaska

In a pioneering procedure, a bald eagle named Cyrano became the first bird in the world to have its broken beak repaired using human tooth fillings. Cyrano, found with a large portion of his upper beak missing, was facing certain death before a team of experts stepped in with an innovative solution.

Cyrano’s ordeal began when he got caught in heavy-duty fishing line off the Alaskan coast, leading to a severe injury. The line cut off circulation to his beak, creating a large gap that made hunting and eating impossible. Without intervention, his beak would have eventually snapped off, dooming him to starvation.

Rescued and brought to the Bird Treatment and Learning Center (BTLC) in Anchorage, Cyrano’s injury was unlike anything the staff had seen before. Unsure how to fix it, they turned to a local dentist, Kirk Johnson, for help.

Mr. Johnson, inspired by his work with human patients, proposed using the same putty used in dental fillings and temporary crowns to repair the eagle’s beak. “This was just a big tooth for a very different individual,” he explained.

In a first-of-its-kind operation, the putty was carefully molded onto Cyrano’s beak, covering the damaged area. The hour-long surgery concluded with the putty being painted yellow to blend with the eagle’s natural coloring. Mr. Johnson, embodying the resourcefulness of the Alaskan spirit, even used a yellow highlighter pen to match the shade perfectly.

Cindy Palmatier, BTLC manager, shared that Cyrano was named after Cyrano de Bergerac, the famous Frenchman known for his large nose—a fitting name for a bird with such a unique beak issue. Though Cyrano may not be able to return to the wild, he is now able to eat and live comfortably at the center.

Cyrano’s survival and recovery stand as a testament to both human ingenuity and compassion, offering hope for future wildlife care. He will likely remain at the BTLC, serving as an educational ambassador for eagles, and while his fate in the wild is uncertain, Cyrano has been given a second chance at life.