Zookeepers Call in Dentist to Help Gorilla with Troublesome Tooth
Zookeepers in Bristol have enlisted the help of a dental expert to treat a gorilla with a troublesome tooth.
Vets at Bristol Zoo sought the expertise of Dr Alex Smithson when a routine dental check on their 36 year old gorilla flagged up symptoms of infection. Dr Smithson is dual-qualified and has experience in treating both humans and animals. This was the first time, however, that he had performed a procedure on a gorilla and he said that he was delighted to be asked to help out.
Romina the gorilla underwent a two-hour procedure. While she was under anaesthetic, Dr Smithson and his team extracted three infected teeth and trimmed the gum tissue to prevent overlapping. Dr Smithson performed a full examination and he also used a portable X-ray unit to get some images of Romina’s mouth and jaws. The treatment went well and Dr Smithson praised the Bristol Zoo vets and keepers for their support and also their dedication to caring for Romina.
The zoo vets sought the help of Dr Smithson because he has an excellent reputation and the mouth of the primate is structurally very similar to the human mouth. The team from the zoo was very impressed with Dr Smithson’s work and everybody was impressed with the portable X-ray machine. This was also a first for the zoo, as they have never called in a dual-qualified dentist before.
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