The primary treatment for a tooth abscess is always surgical: drainage, root canal, or extraction. Antibiotics alone cannot cure an abscess because they can’t remove the source of the infection.

An abscess is a pus filled, swollen tissue. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The body’s response to the infection is sending white blood cells to fight the bacteria. This results in the ...

A root canal is a dental procedure to remove dead or inflamed tissue, called pulp, from inside a tooth. You may need a root canal if you have symptoms such as temperature sensitivity, pain, and ...

A root canal is a dental procedure that gets rid of damage in your tooth’s roots while preserving your natural tooth. Root canals become necessary when infection or inflammation develops in the soft ...

Root canal treatment is designed to save a natural tooth by removing infected pulp, not to cause pain. An infected tooth, often causing severe tooth pain or sensitivity, can lead to bone loss or ...

Lizzie Duszynski-Goodman is a journalist living in the Midwest with her husband and two young children. Her work explores the intersection of mental health, wellness and parenting. She is the former ...

Nobody wants to hear those two words from their dentist: “root canal.” The procedure has such a bad reputation that people use it as a metaphor for anything unpleasant and painful. But here’s some ...

Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS Key Takeaways You can ease cavity pain with over-the-counter pain relievers and home ...

Cavities are one of the most common forms of tooth decay among children in the United States. They affect roughly 20 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11. Multiple factors can influence ...

Have you ever winced when sipping a cold drink, eating ice cream, or brushing your teeth? You’re not alone. Tooth sensitivity ...

An abscess is a confined pocket of pus that builds up within the body. A dental abscess forms within the teeth, in the gums or even the bone holding the tooth in place. A periapical abscess is located ...