Most dentists here have performed dozens, if not hundreds, of root canals in their career. But none have ever risked losing a limb for sticking their hand between the jaws of a patient.

That is, until now.

Enter Rex, a 5-year-old military working dog. The dog could have easily removed a few poking and prodding fingers when he received three root canals during a two-day operation.

Fortunately for the dentists, the pooch was in anesthetic "lala" land. 

Army Capt. (Dr.) Leah Tingley, Tyndall’s veterinarian, said military working dogs often need extensive dental work partly because excessive bite-work training can wear down their teeth. She said veterinarians are trained to perform root canals, but dentists are preferred.

"The dentists are the true subject matter experts," she said. "(Veterinarians) are trained for it, but we don't get to practice it a lot."

It was the first time Capt. (Dr.) Michelle Getz had seen a dog in the dental office. When asked to perform the time-consuming operation, she knew she’d have some studying to do to ensure her first canine root canal was successful.

"I did a residency program at Keesler (Air Force Base, Miss.) and there was some training on dogs -- mostly lectures,” the 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron general dentist said. “So I was a little nervous. I read the veterinary dentistry book to really make sure I was prepared."

In addition to the bite-work training, Rex needed the operation because of a bad habit he has, said Tech. Sgt. Jake Burkett, 325th Security Forces Squadron kennel master.

"As soon as he's done eating, he just tears into his metal food pans and throws them across the room," he said.

Over time, chewing on his food pans and kennel cage wore down his four canine teeth, or fangs. If left untreated, the area could have become prone to chronic infection.

And Rex's sore teeth were already becoming a major interference with his job performance, said Staff Sgt. John Russum, a dog handler.

"I think he was a little hesitant to bite down during bite work, so we should see an immediate improvement," he said.

Performing a root canal on a dog is similar to operating on a human, except a normal dog's canines can be up to 2 and a quarter inches long -- nearly twice the length of an average human tooth. Plus, the tooth and root is curved, said Maj. (Dr.) Orlando Colon, another squadron dentist.

The extra length and curvature adds strength to the dog's bite. But it also takes more time and a steady nerve for the dentist to perform the operation.

The dentists began by drilling a hole on the front side of each canine tooth that needed a root canal, and then they removed the tangled nerve and pulp.

"The only way to save a tooth is to remove the nerve," Dr. Colon said.

Once they cleared the debris inside the holes, and they dried, dentists sealed the holes. They placed tiny orange rubber strings -- as thin as angel hair pasta -- into the holes until they filled the cavities.

"This process is very time consuming and tedious because you have to keep filling more and more," Dr. Colon said.

The process took two days, nearly a month apart, to complete all three teeth.

The average person wouldn't have been able to tell Rex had multiple root canals, except the canines were crowned with shiny gold.

"We made gold crowns just like for a human because root canals can make teeth become brittle and they break easier," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Edwards, noncommissioned officer in charge of the squadron’s dental laboratory. He made the crowns from a plaster impression.

"Now if the dog is going to bite you, you'll see three shiny gold teeth," he said.

Dr. Getz said the crowns last about 10-15 years in people. That means they should last for the rest of Rex's life.

"We'll have to see how the cement holds up during his bite work," she said. "The gold metal will hold, but the cement might not."

Dr. Getz said she was pleased with the results and for experiencing what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I feel this went much smoother the second time," she said. "It was great (getting the experience), and I'll probably never get to do it again."

Capt. (Dr.) Lawrence Horne, who helped with the complex root canals on the second day, agreed.

"If I can do this on a dog, I can do anything," he said.