Porcupine at Ill. zoo is regular dental patient

A porcupine at an Illinois zoo has become a regular dental patient to get a tooth trimmed that keeps growing.

Pilgrim, an 11-year-old porcupine at the Brookfield Zoo, has three teeth that no longer grow and one that keeps on growing, according to a WQAD.com story. So when the continually growing tooth gets too long, the female porcupine has it trimmed by veterinarian Dr. Michael Adkesson, who acts as her dentist.

Without the tooth trimming, the porcupine wouldn't be able to eat, Dr. Adkesson explained. Porcupines use their teeth to pick up food, and Pilgrim's tooth would continue to grow and obstruct her mouth without regular trimming, he said.