A gorilla has had root canal surgery.

Gorilla has root canal surgery

Gorilla has root canal surgery

The silverback western lowland gorilla - which weighs a hefty 28 stone - has been operated on by veterinary dentist Peter Kertesz to correct the toothy issue at Paignton Zoo in Devon, south west England, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reports.

Jo Reynard from the zoo's vet team explained: ''When a tooth is fractured the living pulp becomes exposed, this can lead to an infection and an abscess.

''The dentist removed the pulp and replaced it with special biocompatible material, so preserving the tooth.''