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| Chester Zoo sloth has dental surgery to cure toothache | Chester Zoo sloth has dental surgery to cure toothache |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dentist Fiona Beddis said the work was a first for the team and "a step into the unknown" | Dentist Fiona Beddis said the work was a first for the team and "a step into the unknown" |
| A sloth has had pioneering dental surgery to cure toothache. | A sloth has had pioneering dental surgery to cure toothache. |
| Rico is believed to be the first sloth to undergo such an operation, which was carried out by a team at Chester Zoo working alongside dental experts from Newcastle University. | Rico is believed to be the first sloth to undergo such an operation, which was carried out by a team at Chester Zoo working alongside dental experts from Newcastle University. |
| The two-toed sloth went under the knife after keepers noticed swellings on the sides of its face, with investigations showing two root abscesses. | The two-toed sloth went under the knife after keepers noticed swellings on the sides of its face, with investigations showing two root abscesses. |
| Dentist Fiona Beddis said the university's team had never carried out the procedure on a sloth so it "really was a step into the unknown, so we are all delighted with the successful outcome". | Dentist Fiona Beddis said the university's team had never carried out the procedure on a sloth so it "really was a step into the unknown, so we are all delighted with the successful outcome". |
| Rico is thought to be the first sloth to undergo the operation | Rico is thought to be the first sloth to undergo the operation |
| Rico underwent a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo | Rico underwent a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo |
| The team had to work carefully to carry out the dental work | The team had to work carefully to carry out the dental work |
| Ms Beddis said treating Rico had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was "a great privilege to treat such a rare and beautiful animal". | Ms Beddis said treating Rico had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was "a great privilege to treat such a rare and beautiful animal". |
| Rico, who is 25 years old, had a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo's animal care centre, with the infected tissue surrounding two of the sloth's teeth removed. | Rico, who is 25 years old, had a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo's animal care centre, with the infected tissue surrounding two of the sloth's teeth removed. |
| Unlike a typical root canal, the dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico's tooth. | Unlike a typical root canal, the dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico's tooth. |
| Dave Edwards from Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences said the surgery involved removing the end of the tooth root and "sealing it with special cement". | Dave Edwards from Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences said the surgery involved removing the end of the tooth root and "sealing it with special cement". |
| He said it was "very challenging working on a sloth due to their unique anatomy, but also a very rewarding experience". | He said it was "very challenging working on a sloth due to their unique anatomy, but also a very rewarding experience". |
| The keepers used treats and toys to get Rico into position for some X-rays | |
| Resident zoo vet Charlotte Bentley said the teeth that they operated on were "highly specialised and sharp molars". | |
| She said sloths had "very different teeth to humans, which makes dentistry challenging". | |
| "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," she added. | |
| "It's safe to say that the treatment worked at treating his toothache." | |
| Zoo staff had to undergo special training to enable them to carry out X-rays on Rico while conscious | Zoo staff had to undergo special training to enable them to carry out X-rays on Rico while conscious |
| The zoo's resident vet said sloths had "very different teeth to humans, which makes dentistry challenging" | The zoo's resident vet said sloths had "very different teeth to humans, which makes dentistry challenging" |
| Rico has been regularly monitored since the surgery | Rico has been regularly monitored since the surgery |
| Rico, who lives with Tina, a female two-toed sloth, in the zoo's jaguar house, has been regularly monitored since the surgery. | Rico, who lives with Tina, a female two-toed sloth, in the zoo's jaguar house, has been regularly monitored since the surgery. |
| Rico's keeper, Brittany Williams, said "it could be slow progress calling Rico for health checks following the surgery as "he goes at his own pace", but she added: "I don't mind working at sloth speed." | Rico's keeper, Brittany Williams, said "it could be slow progress calling Rico for health checks following the surgery as "he goes at his own pace", but she added: "I don't mind working at sloth speed." |
| Two-toed sloths are found across South America, where they face threats including habitat loss, logging and hunting for the illegal wildlife trade. | Two-toed sloths are found across South America, where they face threats including habitat loss, logging and hunting for the illegal wildlife trade. |
| Chester Zoo is part of a conservation breeding programme working to safeguard the species across Europe. | Chester Zoo is part of a conservation breeding programme working to safeguard the species across Europe. |
| Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. | Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. |