A rare two-toed sloth is recovering at a UK zoo after undergoing pioneering dental surgery to cure its toothache.
The 25-year-old South American mammal named Rico began to concern keepers at Chester Zoo after the sides of his face started to swell up.
The zoo’s team of vets carried out a series of health checks, including a CT scan, which revealed that Rico had two root abscesses.
Incredible photos show how he willingly clambered in front of an X-ray machine for a check-up after undergoing a three-hour-long surgery to remove the infected tissue.
Rico is now back recovering in his enclosure with female sloth Tina following the groundbreaking endodontic procedure involving experts from Newcastle University.
Charlotte Bentley, veterinary resident at the zoo, said: “Sloths have very different teeth to humans, which makes dentistry challenging.
“The large, sharp teeth that were affected in Rico were caniniform teeth, which are highly specialised molars.
“Like so many things with sloths, the exact purpose of these specialised sharp teeth is not fully understood.
“However, they are thought to serve an important role in biting and shearing their food, so we were eager to try to avoid any extractions during the initial operation.
“Whilst we couldn’t save both teeth, the great news is that since his procedure, the abscesses have not come back, and his latest x-ray shows his filling is still in place.
“It’s safe to say that the treatment worked at treating his toothache.”
The surgery was conducted inside the zoo’s on-site animal care centre, where the team managed to save the tooth and stop any infection from spreading
Dental issues have been known to recur, so Rico has been regularly monitored since the surgery.
Unlike a typical root canal, the dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico’s tooth, through the side of his mandible.
Dave Edwards, Clinical Fellow at Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences, who also works at Newcastle Hospitals’ Dental Hospital, said: “A three-dimensional scan showed that routine root canal treatment would not be possible, therefore, we undertook surgery to debride the abscess and complete an ‘apicectomy’.
“This involved removing the end of the tooth root and sealing it with a special cement.
“Both abscesses cleared up within a week, and it’s great that Rico remains free of any issues.
“It was very challenging working on a sloth due to their unique anatomy, but also a very rewarding experience!”
Rico has been trained to climb down towards his keepers when they call his name in a low voice, so they were able to entice him into position for an X-ray.
Brittany Williams, a keeper on the Twilight Team at Chester Zoo, has worked with him over several years to acclimatise him to being checked for lumps and bumps and to keep his mouth open so his teeth can be inspected.
She said: “He goes at his own pace. But I don’t mind working at sloth speed.
“We are really lucky with Rico. I started working with him two or three years ago to get him used to conscious claw-checking, as they grow continuously and need trimming every few months.
“Rico is very food motivated, so once I found out his favorite snacks, cooked parsnips and corn kernels, it was just a case of being consistent and having lots of patience.
“As soon as he learns a behaviour, that’s it. It’s like riding a bike. He won’t forget it.
“He’s come down every day for a year when we’ve called for him, and he generally responds on the first attempt from anywhere in his habitat.
“He’s still learning to keep his mouth open for a little longer for dental checks, but he’s getting there.”
Fiona Beddis, dentist and Associate Clinical Lecturer at Newcastle University’s Department of Restorative Dentistry, said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to treat Rico.
She added: “It’s a great privilege to treat such a rare and beautiful animal.
“I felt great empathy with Rico as I underwent the same procedure on my front tooth when I was 16 years old and this in fact inspired me to become a dentist.
“Rico experienced much less post-operative swelling than I did!
“Having never carried out this procedure on a sloth, it really was a step into the unknown, so we are all delighted with the successful outcome.”
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Source: Talker News / Digpu NewsTex