Abscessed tooth


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Abscessed tooth


Illustration of an abscessed tooth

Illustration copyright 2003, 2005 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com

An abscessed tooth is a tooth that has a pocket of pus in the tissue next to it. This often occurs because the inside (pulp) of a tooth is infected and the bacteria spreads to the tissue underneath the tooth. An abscess usually causes throbbing pain in the tooth and red, swollen gums.

Credits


Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist
Last Updated March 23, 2007

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