Dental Abscess Treatment in Calgary
A dental abscess is a serious infection that needs urgent care. Tooth Bar in Calgary provides same-day abscess treatment to stop infection and protect your health. Call now.
What Is a Dental Abscess?
A dental abscess is a pocket of infection - a buildup of pus caused by bacteria - that forms inside the tooth, at the root, or in the surrounding gum tissue. Abscesses are typically the result of untreated decay, a cracked tooth, advanced gum disease, or a previous dental procedure that didn't fully resolve.
Dental abscesses are not just a dental problem. The infection can spread to the jaw, neck, sinuses, and in rare but serious cases, the bloodstream - a condition called sepsis that can be life-threatening. At Tooth Bar in Calgary, we treat abscesses as the medical emergency they are. Same-day appointments are reserved specifically for situations like this.
Who Needs Abscess Treatment?
Call us immediately if you're experiencing severe, persistent toothache that may radiate to the jaw, ear, or neck, swelling in your face, cheek, or jaw, swelling and tenderness in the gum near a tooth, sometimes with a visible bump or pimple, fever or general feeling of being unwell, a foul taste or odor in your mouth from drainage, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers after the trigger is removed.
Difficulty swallowing or breathing is a serious warning sign. If you're experiencing either, go to an emergency room or call 911 - the infection may be compromising your airway.
Why Prompt Treatment Matters
An abscess will not heal on its own. Antibiotics alone can temporarily reduce the symptoms, but the source of the infection - typically inside the tooth or beneath the gum - has to be physically addressed to stop the infection permanently. Pain that goes away after antibiotics often returns within weeks if the underlying problem isn't treated.
Untreated abscesses can spread to the jawbone, nearby teeth, sinuses, and through the body. Beyond the medical risks, prolonged infection can destroy bone around the affected tooth, making it harder to save and more expensive to replace. Acting fast preserves both the tooth and your overall health.
Pain from an abscess is often severe and constant. Getting treatment is also the fastest path to relief.
How We Treat Dental Abscesses
When you come in with a suspected abscess, we begin with a focused examination and digital X-rays to confirm the diagnosis, locate the infection, and assess how far it has spread. In some cases, we use 3D CBCT imaging for a more detailed view, especially when surgical treatment may be needed.
If the abscess is causing significant pressure or swelling, we may begin treatment by draining the infection. This relieves pain immediately and reduces the bacterial load before definitive treatment.
Definitive treatment depends on the source. For an abscess inside the tooth (a periapical abscess), root canal therapy is typically the answer - removing the infected pulp, cleaning the root canals, and sealing the tooth. For an abscess in the gum (a periodontal abscess), deep cleaning of the affected area, sometimes with minor surgery, addresses the source.
If the tooth cannot be saved, extraction is the path forward. We'll discuss replacement options, which may include a dental implant or bridge once the infection is fully resolved.
Antibiotics are prescribed when the infection has spread beyond the immediate area or in patients with health conditions that warrant them - but they're a supplement to definitive treatment, not a replacement for it.
Dental Abscess Treatment FAQs
Is a dental abscess a medical emergency?
Yes. While most abscesses can be treated in the dental office, a spreading infection that causes facial swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing/breathing requires immediate care. Don't wait.
Can I treat an abscess with antibiotics alone?
No. Antibiotics can reduce the infection temporarily, but the source - typically an infected tooth root or gum pocket - has to be physically treated. The infection will return if the source isn't addressed.
Will I lose the tooth if I have an abscess?
Often, no. Many abscessed teeth can be saved with root canal therapy followed by a crown. We always work to preserve the natural tooth when it's clinically possible.
How can I tell if I have an abscess vs. a regular toothache?
Abscesses typically involve constant, severe pain along with swelling, fever, or a bad taste from drainage. A regular toothache may be sharper or triggered by temperature without those broader symptoms. Either way, both deserve prompt evaluation.
How quickly can you see me for a suspected abscess?
Same day, in nearly all cases. Call us as early as possible. If you're experiencing trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room - that's a sign the infection is spreading rapidly.
Get Treatment Now
A dental abscess won't heal on its own and can become dangerous. Call Tooth Bar immediately for same-day abscess treatment in Calgary.
Call us right now or book an emergency appointment online.