A tooth infection or “tooth abscess” is a collection ... In certain cases, it may be necessary to drain pus directly from the site of the infection. For example, drainage may be necessary ...

If the infection doesn’t drain, it could spread to your jaw, head, or neck—or, like in Kondratyuk’s case, to you bloodstream. Deadly tooth infections are rare, but they aren’t unheard of.

Not all tooth infections require antibiotics. In some cases, your dentist may be able to drain the abscess. Other cases might require a root canal or removal of the infected tooth. Antibiotics are ...

Without proper treatment, tooth infections can spread to other areas of the body, leading to serious and potentially life threatening complications. A tooth infection, or a tooth abscess, is a ...

Sasha Ross, DMD, MS, is a board-certified periodontist who has been with the Cleveland Clinic since 2013. She earned her dental degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and completed her ...

If an infection becomes so painful ... to cut open the abscess and allow the pus to drain. It can also be drained through the infected tooth at the start of a root canal procedure.

When bacteria gets into the root of a tooth, it can cause a buildup of pus. This kind of infection is called an abscessed tooth, or a periapical abscess. These infections don’t go away on their ...

An abscessed tooth should clear up within a few days of treatment. Even if it seems to drain on its own, it’s important to follow up with your dentist to make sure the infection doesn’t spread ...