Not your average dentist

MOST of us whinge about having to see the dentist once a year but spare a thought for Happy the hippo who has to get his teeth filed every day.

The 26-year-old common hippopotamus who lives at Western plains Zoo in Dubbo needs his tusks filed to stop him injuring himself.

"Happy's lower tusks were growing so long and sharp they were cutting his lips," his keeper Anthony Dorrian said. "We had to train him to open his mouth for us and hold it open so we can file the tusks down to keep them smooth."Happy hippo: Happy lets Anthony Dorrian file the tusks that can bite a man in half. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: The Daily Telegraph

It's quite a sight watching Happy present his teeth to Mr Dorrian and wait while his teeth are filed.

Mr Dorrian said hippos use their tusks as weapons and for picking up food.

When Happy's tusks begin to hurt him, keepers chop about 5cm off.

"It doesn't hurt him. It's just about having him trust us enough so he will open his mouth," Mr Dorrian said.