The Dodo introduces us to Patrick Seligman, a diver in Hawaii. On his occasional dives, he visits an animal dental office beneath the surface of the water. It's a section of reef inhabited by Pacific cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinesis), a species known for eating parasites and dead tissue from other fish. This symbiotic relationship allows the shrimp to eat and other fish to get clean.
Seligman opens his mouth near a shrimp and allows it approach him. Although some shrimp are skittish around the big human, others are willing to clean his teeth and pick up a free meal. After repeat visits, Seligman began bringing his friends for dental hygiene services.