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An abscess is an active infection, and it only moves in one direction: worse. Call us first thing and we will make a plan for your emergency. We prioritize patients in pain.
Signs of an abscess include throbbing pain, a swollen or tender gum, a pimple-like bump, a bad taste in your mouth, fever, or swelling in your face or jaw. While you get in touch with us, these steps can help you stay comfortable.
Half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swished gently a few times a day, helps keep the area clean and can ease the ache. It does not treat the infection itself.
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, used as the label directs, can make the wait bearable. Never place aspirin against the gum; it burns the tissue.
A cold pack on the outside of your cheek reduces pain and swelling. Avoid heating pads and hot compresses on your face; heat can encourage the infection to spread.
Pressing on a pimple-like bump on the gum or trying to drain it yourself pushes bacteria deeper. If it drains on its own, rinse and spit gently, and still come in; the infection is not gone.
An abscess never resolves on its own. Even if the pain suddenly stops, the infection is still there and still spreading. Call us and we will make a plan for your emergency.
Call (603) 924-3664An exam and an X-ray show us where the abscess sits and where it started: deep decay, a cracked tooth, a failing old restoration, or gum disease. The source decides the treatment.
That usually means numbing the area, draining the abscess to release the pressure, and prescribing antibiotics when they are appropriate. Most patients feel dramatically better once the pressure is gone.
Antibiotics alone are a pause button, not a cure. If the tooth cannot be saved, we handle extractions and replacements in-house. If a root canal is needed to save it, we coordinate promptly with trusted specialists.
We have to be direct about this one. An untreated abscess can spread beyond the tooth into the face, neck, and bloodstream, and at that point it becomes a medical emergency, not a dental one. Go to the emergency room or call 911 first if you have:
The hospital can stabilize the infection, but it cannot fix the tooth that caused it. Once you are medically stable, call us so we can treat the source and end the cycle.
Even if the pain eases, the abscess is still there. Call our Grove Street office and we will make a plan to treat the infection at its source.