When to Seek Medical Care

If you think you have an abscess, call your dentist. If you cannot reach a dentist, go to your physician or a hospital's emergency department for evaluation, especially if you feel sick.

• If an infection becomes so painful that it cannot be managed by nonprescription medicines, see your doctor or dentist for drainage.



• If you develop fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting as a result of a dental abscess, see your doctor.

If you have intolerable pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, any of the symptoms of a dental abscess, or you cannot reach your doctor or dentist during off hours, go to a hospital's emergency department for evaluation and treatment. By seeking treatment before your symptoms progress to this stage, you can avoid emergency department visits.