The root canal procedure involved drilling two holes in the 60mm wide crown of the tooth, to allow for any dead material to be flushed away.
During the procedure x-rays were taken to ensure the instruments had reached all the way down the tooth and to check that surrounding bone and tissues were healthy.
Finally, the tooth was filled with materials that set with UV light, just as in human dentistry.
Mr Goold says the operation went well and Jaka has made a full recovery.
"As the nerve in the tooth is dead, there was no pain associated with the procedure and Jaka had no discomfort once he recovered."
Veterinary dental specialist Dr Russell Tucker, from Auckland, performed the root canal work, generously donating his time.
He has performed other dental work at Hamilton Zoo, on the African wild dogs and chimpanzees.