Hermie the Turtle Get's Braces

WATERTOWN, N.Y. - Hermie the Turtle's little defective beak made meal time a struggle. Unable to close his mouth completely, the tiny 20-gram reptile's very existence was at stake.

But today, this map turtle has a new lease on life thanks to the work of two doctors who outfitted young Hermie with braces. Now, some are calling the orthodontic work a Christmas miracle.

During a meeting with reporters, the doctors placed the immobile turtle, believed to be between 2 and 3 years old, on a table. As Baier held Hermie's head, Virga placed two rubber orthodontic elastics - the same kind used by children with braces - on the pins across the turtle's mouth.

Update: Unfortunately, little Hermie didn't make it - he died last Thursday of kidney failure. RIP Hermie.

(azcentral) and (swim at your own risk)