Robert A. Klement, DDS
Robert A. Klement, DDS will have a short bio with brief information on their background. Please check back soon or view the link below for more information.
Find Us:
1310 River Run Dr.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Find us
Patient Library
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (74)
- gum disease (6)
- periodontal disease (2)
- dental injury (9)
- mouthguards (9)
- oral health (31)
- oral hygiene (37)
- pediatric dentistry (7)
- teeth whitening (4)
- water (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (9)
- bridge (2)
- porcelain veneers (4)
- veneers (1)
- crown (2)
- tooth pain (4)
- root canal treatment (1)
- mouthguard (2)
- dental injuries (3)
- orthodontics (3)
- braces (6)
- clear orthodontic aligners (1)
- dental implants (22)
- smoking (1)
- oral cancer (2)
- composite resins (1)
- tooth decay (7)
- crowns (9)
- eating disorders (1)
- dental cleanings (1)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- tmd (1)
- tmj disorders (4)
- tmj (1)
- bad breath (2)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- thumb sucking (2)
- toothpaste (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- removable dentures (1)
- cracked mouth (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dentures (4)
- bonding (2)
- mouth rash (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- sugar (1)
- nutrition (5)
- chipped tooth (5)
- teeth wear (1)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- oral sedation (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- retainers (1)
- jaw pain (2)
- teeth grinding (1)
- flossing (2)
- fillings (2)
- missing tooth (1)
- x-rays (1)
- root canal (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- removable partial denture (2)
- retainer (2)
- bone grafting (1)
- partial denture (3)
- dental care (2)
- aspirin (1)
- dental visit (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- mouth sores (1)
- bridgework (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- extractions (1)
- bulimia (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- fluoride (1)
- burning mouth syndrome (2)
- x-ray (1)
- pregnancy (2)
- lingual braces (1)
- dental implant (1)
- antibiotics (2)
- snoring (2)
- sleep apnea (2)
- vaping (1)
- diabetes (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- (1)
- smile makeover (1)
Categories:
Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
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.”