Somers, the injured dolphin, was yesterday fitted with a specially designed splint to help his fractured jaw mend - created with the help of a Bermuda dental surgeon.

Dentist Dr. Laidlaw Fraser-Smith, who is known as one of the most experienced dental surgeons on the Island, was asked to offer his advice and expertise after the three-year-old Atlantic Bottle-nosed dolphin hurt his jaw.

The Royal Gazette reported last week how Somers, the first Bermudian-born dolphin on the Island, had been found with the mysterious injury at the Dolphin Quest pool early last Thursday.

He was given a temporary sling to help keep his jaw in place, and a course of pain killers and antibiotics.

But on Monday night, Dolphin Quest owner and marine vet Dr. Jay Sweeney arrived on the Island from the US to assess his patient.

And he was joined yesterday by dental surgeon Dr. Fraser-Smith and vet Dr. Neil Burnie, from Endsmeet Animal Hospital.

Together, they designed a splint for the dolphin that will hold his jaw in place and allow it to mend, hopefully, within about six weeks' time.

Last night, Dr. Fraser-Smith said: “The case was referred to me by another dentist, who knew I had experience with human facial fractures, fractures of the jaw in particular.

“I deal with between 25 to 30 facial fractures a year in human beings, but I had no experience of dolphins.

“I consulted with Dr. Sweeney and Dr. Burnie and they basically came up with the treatment plan, and I was basically there as someone to bounce ideas off.”

He said Somers was removed from the water yesterday and the splint, which is in two parts, was put in place. The bottom part is held in place with wire through the dolphin's teeth, and something similar to a bungee cord is being used to hold the splint together, which can be easily removed to enable him to feed.

Dr. Fraser-Smith added: “It will take about six weeks to heel. Hopefully, he will be 100 percent with no long-term consequences.”

And as to whether the dental surgeon will make dolphin surgery a regular practice, he said “probably not”.

He added: “It was probably a once in a lifetime experience. He was a great patient and he did not talk back.” Yesterday, both the SPCA and general manager of Dolphin Quest Christine Mihelcic reported that Somers was doing well.

The SPCA said the pool, at Dockyard, more than met US guidelines on dolphin enclosures, taking into consideration the size of the pool, temperature and suitability and cleanliness of the water.

And inspector Charles Whited said he and chairman of the animal charity Dr. Andrew Madeiros were satisfied that the injury was not due to the enclosure itself.

He said: “From what we understand, dolphins can get the same injury in the wild. It's quite common. “Adolescent dolphins tend to be quite rough and they play hard. Obviously, we did have concerns and we have asked a lot of questions, but we are satisfied with the measures taken by Dolphin Quest and the progress of the dolphin.

“Dolphin Quest have always worked closely with us.

“When we left in the afternoon, he had his new splint on and he was swimming through hoops and clapping on his back."