It is a collection of pus in the gum secondary to a dental infection.
The most frequent cause is caries, but it can also appear due to trauma or infection of the tissues that support the tooth.
It manifests with pain in an area of the mouth that is aggravated by chewing or temperature changes when taking food and drinks. It may cause swelling of one side of the face, inflammation of local lymph nodes, and in more severe cases, fever.
It is diagnosed by clinical interrogation and close inspection of teeth, gums, mouth and neck.
The first objective of treatment is to reduce pain with analgesics and treat the infection with antibiotics. In the second stage, endodontics or tooth extraction will be performed depending on the viability of the tooth.
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