Conditions
Dental abscess
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth. It can cause pain, swelling and a bad taste.
An abscess forms when pus builds up at the tip of a tooth root in the jawbone. A pus pocket forms. It can come from a deep cavity, a crack or an injury that lets bacteria reach the tooth pulp.
Symptoms can include pain, swelling, redness in the gums, a bad taste in the mouth and fever. If an abscess is not treated, it can lead to a serious infection in the jaw bone, teeth and surrounding tissues.
Treatment depends on how severe the infection is. A dentist may treat the tooth with root canal therapy, remove it, or drain the abscess. Facial swelling that spreads toward the eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a high fever calls for emergency medical care. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. Our office describes urgent care on its emergency dentistry page.