Abscessed Tooth

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Medical Author:

Michael G. Sherman, DMD

Michael G. Sherman, DMD

Dr. Sherman received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Dr. Sherman was accepted into the research fellowship program at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. After the fellowship program, Dr. Sherman was accepted into Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Following dental school, Dr. Sherman was accepted into the postgraduate endodontic program at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Sherman is currently in private practice in the field of endodontics in San Diego's North County.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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An abscessed tooth is a dental condition in which the nerve, also referred to as the dental pulp, has become infected. The infection usually occurs when a dental cavity (tooth decay) goes untreated and spreads deep within the tooth. The infection can also occur from a broken or cracked tooth where the dental pulp is exposed to the oral environment. The bacteria that cause an abscess can spread down the length of the roots and into the surrounding bone tissue. Some dental professionals also consider an infection between the gum and tooth root a tooth abscess. Additionally, the dental nerve can be susceptible to necrosis (infection) after a crown or large filling are completed. The closer the dental treatment approaches the dental nerve the more likely the nerve can become affected. The dental nerve can be variable in size and infection after dental treatment is usually not the fault of the dentist. Teeth that are directly subjected to dental trauma (for example, from a fall or from a hit by a projectile such as a baseball) should be immediately examined by a dental professional.

Picture of an abscessed tooth.

Common symptoms of a dental abscess include swelling, pain when chewing, a constant toothache or a dull, constant throb associated with the tooth. Other symptoms may include swelling of the glands of the neck, fever, bad breath, and odd or bitter taste in the mouth. Drainage from the gum tissue may also be present. The gum tissue can become inflamed, swollen, or infected. A small pimple on the gingival tissue referred to as a sinus tract may also develop and is usually representative of a dental infection. The abscess can be painful but occasionally the problem can go unnoticed unless detected by a dental professional.