Toggle navigation
Jason H. Lee, DMD
116 Davis Road Augusta, GA 30907(706) 860-4048
  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Team
    • Meet the Doctor
    • Meet the Team
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

My Blog

Posts for: April, 2015

Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away

By Jason H. Lee, DMD
April 18, 2015
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: abscessed tooth   celebrity smiles  
TomHanksAbscessedToothGetsCastAway

Did you see the move Cast Away starring Tom Hanks? If so, you probably remember the scene where Hanks, stranded on a remote island, knocks out his own abscessed tooth — with an ice skate, no less — to stop the pain. Recently, Dear Doctor TV interviewed Gary Archer, the dental technician who created that special effect and many others.

“They wanted to have an abscess above the tooth with all sorts of gunk and pus and stuff coming out of it,” Archer explained. “I met with Tom and I took impressions [of his mouth] and we came up with this wonderful little piece. It just slipped over his own natural teeth.” The actor could flick it out with his lower tooth when the time was right during the scene. It ended up looking so real that, as Archer said, “it was not for the easily squeamish!”

That’s for sure. But neither is a real abscess, which is an infection that becomes sealed off beneath the gum line. An abscess may result from a trapped piece of food, uncontrolled periodontal (gum) disease, or even an infection deep inside a tooth that has spread to adjacent periodontal tissues. In any case, the condition can cause intense pain due to the pressure that builds up in the pus-filled sac. Prompt treatment is required to relieve the pain, keep the infection from spreading to other areas of the face (or even elsewhere in the body), and prevent tooth loss.

Treatment involves draining the abscess, which usually stops the pain immediately, and then controlling the infection and removing its cause. This may require antibiotics and any of several in-office dental procedures, including gum surgery, a root canal, or a tooth extraction. But if you do have a tooth that can’t be saved, we promise we won’t remove it with an ice skate!

The best way to prevent an abscess from forming in the first place is to practice conscientious oral hygiene. By brushing your teeth twice each day for two minutes, and flossing at least once a day, you will go a long way towards keeping harmful oral bacteria from thriving in your mouth.

If you have any questions about gum disease or abscesses, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Periodontal (Gum) Abscesses” and “Confusing Tooth Pain.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink

Welcome to Our Blog

By Jason H. Lee, DMD
April 17, 2015
Category: None
Tags: Untagged

Welcome to the Blog of Jason H. Lee, DMD

Whether you are an existing patient or searching for a dentist in the Augusta, GA area, we’re excited you are here. With the dental industry advancing, we recognize the importance of keeping our patients and visitors up to date with all of the new and exciting things taking place in our practice.

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote dental awareness as a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including dental news, advancements in dental technology and treatments, practical oral health advice and updates from our practice.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure your best dental health. 

As always, feel free to contact our Jason H. Lee, DMD office with any dental questions or concerns.

-- Jason H. Lee, DMD


0 Comment(s) Permalink


May (0) March (0)
Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2015
      • November (1)
        • Lamar Odom Rebounds From Dental Anxiety
      • October (2)
        • A Bird's-Eye View of Tooth Replacement
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
      • September (3)
        • Don't Neglect Office Cleanings with Dental Implants
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Facial Nerve Pain can be Reduced with the Right Treatment Approach
      • August (2)
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
        • Get the Facts About Popular Artificial Sweeteners
      • July (2)
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Crown Lengthening Opens up New Teeth Restoration Possibilities
      • June (2)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • What you can Expect if You're Undergoing Implant Surgery
      • April (2)
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • abscessed tooth (1)
  • celebrity smiles (7)
  • dental implants (3)
  • wisdom teeth (1)
  • crown lengthening (1)
  • artificial sweeteners (1)
  • oral health (1)
  • braces (2)
  • facial pain (1)
  • orthodontics (1)
  • oral hygiene (2)
  • tooth replacement (1)
  • missing teeth (1)
  • dental anxiety (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Dental Procedures (9)
  • Oral Health (4)

Our Location

116 Davis Road
Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 860-4048

Map & directions

Hours of Operation:

Monday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

4:00 Appointments are available upon request.

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Meet The Doctor
  • Website for Dentist Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map