Jan 15, 2007 6:05 pm US/Eastern
'Koda' The Polar Bear Doing Well After Root Canal
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Koda, the polar bear cub, at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is doing well today after he underwent a root canal on Sunday.
His keepers says he drank some water this morning and also ate some polar bear biscuits.
According to the bear's dentists, made up of both veterinary dentists and human dentists, the patient came through his 90-minute root canal with flying colors.
"It went extremely well, I think," said Dr. David Regine, a dentist. "It went according to the book."
Koda's lower right fang was chipped, which infected the area, causing swelling around his jaw and head.
Dr. Regine, of Bridgeville, says the only difference between a polar bear and a person is the size of the tooth.
"I'm used to working on something about this size. When you get something about that size it's totally different, so in essence, you have to make up instrumentation. Some of the stuff I used was plumbing supplies, a turkey skewers. You kind of have to use your imagination. "
Koda will be allowed to swim around his behind-the-scenes pool today before he is reunited with his brother Nuka at "The Water's Edge" exhibit.
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