Polar bears Cranbeary and Kova have long been favorites at the Alaska Zoo. They share an enclosure filled with toys and treats and a large pool where Kova likes to take her morning swim. Advertisement

But it wasn't so long ago that this normally playful 4-year-old was feeling under the weather.

"Kova is a very interactive and busy bear, and she just seemed kind of off. She was pawing at her mouth a little bit," Alaska Zoo curator Sam Lavin said.

Lavin suspected an issue with a tooth, so she asked Kova to give her a closer look.

"We could see that she had broken one of her canines, and there's any number of ways that she could have done that."

An X-ray confirmed the diagnosis and what needed to happen next.

"We did consult with a veterinary specialist outside of Alaska, sent him the

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