Dental Abscess Treatment in Broadview Heights, OH

A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that has formed a pocket of pus either at the tip of a tooth root or in the gum tissue. It is one of the most painful conditions in dentistry and one of the most dangerous if left untreated. Dental infections do not resolve on their own — they expand and can become life-threatening when bacteria reach the jaw, neck, airway, or bloodstream.

Symptoms of a dental abscess include a severe, throbbing toothache; intense sensitivity to heat; swelling in the face, cheek, or jaw; tender and swollen lymph nodes under the jaw; fever; and a foul taste from a burst abscess. If you experience facial swelling, high fever, difficulty opening your mouth, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, call us immediately — these symptoms indicate a rapidly spreading infection.

Our treatment involves draining the accumulated pus to relieve pressure and pain, prescribing targeted antibiotics to eliminate the remaining bacterial infection, and addressing the source — either with root canal therapy or extraction. Antibiotics alone are never sufficient treatment for a dental abscess.

After treatment, we discuss prevention. Dental abscesses most commonly develop from untreated cavities, cracked teeth, or gum disease. Addressing these conditions early is always the preferred outcome.