British Sloth Undergoes a Root Canal to Treat Abscesses
In a first-of-its-kind procedure, dentists treated a two-toed sloth’s root abscesses at Chester Zoo. The challenging case combined veterinary and dental expertise to preserve the animal’s health.
Rico, a 25-year-old two-toed sloth at the United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo, recently became the first of his kind to undergo complex dental surgery for root abscesses. When keepers noticed facial swelling, diagnostic imaging revealed two infected molars. A collaborative team from Chester Zoo and Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences stepped in to perform a 3-hour operation, navigating the sloth’s unique anatomy to access the infected tooth roots. Rather than performing a conventional root canal, surgeons removed the apex of one root and sealed it with biocompatible cement. One molar was beyond saving, but the other was successfully treated. Post-operative care confirmed resolution of the abscess, and follow-up X-rays showed the restoration remains intact. Sloths’ specialized teeth and slow metabolism made this a particularly demanding case, but it resulted in a rare dental success in exotic animal care. Rico continues to recover at his own pace, under the watchful eye of his keepers and his companion, Tina. Click here to read more.
