What are the treatments for the infection?

There are two basic treatments for a tooth abscess. Root canal therapy can get rid of the infection and save the tooth in most cases. In root canal therapy, the infected tissue in the central part of the tooth pulp is removed. The area is then sealed to prevent continued infection. Surgery to remove the infected material from the bony tissue around the root is sometimes needed. The tooth itself may need to be repaired with a crown after root canal therapy.

If root canal therapy is not successful, the tooth usually has to be pulled. Antibiotics alone will help symptoms only temporarily. A tooth abscess cannot be permanently cured without root canal therapy or the removal of the tooth.

What happens after treatment for the infection?

If root canal therapy is successful and the tooth is properly repaired afterward, it can last indefinitely. Removing the tooth before the infection has spread to the rest of the body also solves the problem.