See How a Polar Bear Visits the Dentist
Boris the polar bear had an extra-large tooth pulled.
ByABC News
February 7, 2015, 1:19 PM
— -- Turns out even polar bears can get a toothache.
Boris, an elderly polar bear at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, is recovering after having a large tooth pulled.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/HT_boris_polar_bear_4_point_defiance_zoo_jt_150207.jpg)
The bear had to undergo a three-hour procedure to remove the fractured and abscessed canine tooth. After getting the painful tooth removed, the bear was placed on a strict diet of soft foods.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/HT_boris_polar_bear_3_point_defiance_zoo_jt_150207.jpg)
This is not Boris' first trip to the dentist. At 29 years old, the polar bear is one of the oldest in captivity and has already undergone a few root canals, according to ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle.
Boris has been a resident at the zoo since 2002, according to KOMO-TV.