Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is a serious dental issue where the nerve tissue—also known as the dental pulp—becomes infected.

This type of infection often begins when a cavity is left untreated, allowing decay to penetrate deep into the tooth. It may also result from a fractured or chipped tooth that exposes the pulp to bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria can travel through the root canals and into the surrounding bone. In some cases, infections between the gum and the tooth root are also classified as tooth abscesses. Furthermore, the pulp may become infected or die following certain dental procedures like crowns or large fillings. The nearer a procedure is to the nerve, the higher the risk of post-treatment complications. Because nerve size can vary from tooth to tooth, this issue is generally not due to dentist error. Any tooth that suffers direct impact—such as from a fall or a flying object like a baseball—should be promptly evaluated by a dentist.

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What are the signs of an abscessed tooth?

Typical indicators of a dental abscess include localized swelling, pain during chewing, persistent toothache, or a deep throbbing discomfort in the area. Other possible symptoms are swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, foul-smelling breath, and a strange or bitter taste in the mouth. You may also notice pus draining from the gums, along with inflamed or tender gum tissue. A small bump resembling a pimple—known as a sinus tract—may appear on the gums and often signals the presence of an underlying infection. While many abscesses are painful, some go unnoticed until discovered during a dental exam.

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