A dental abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum, and it does not get better on its own. Call (770) 802-2220 and our Lithia Springs dentist will see you the same day, Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM, to drain the infection and treat the tooth that caused it.
The $89 covers the emergency exam and diagnostic X-rays. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Same-day appointments · $89 exam + X-rays · Phones answered 24/7 · Se habla español
Signs of an abscess that needs treatment today
- Swelling in the gum, cheek or jaw, sometimes with a pimple-like bump on the gum
- Throbbing pain that spreads toward the ear, jaw or neck
- A sudden foul taste or smell, which can mean the abscess has started to drain
- Fever, feeling generally unwell, or swollen glands under the jaw
- A tooth that's tender to touch or feels taller than the others when you bite
When an abscess is an emergency room problem first
Go to an ER before calling any dentist if the swelling is closing your eye, making it hard to swallow or breathe, or comes with a high fever and a stiff neck. Those are signs the infection is spreading beyond the tooth. Wellstar Douglas Hospital in Douglasville and Wellstar Cobb Hospital in Austell are the closest ERs for most of our patients. Once you're stable, call us; the ER treats the spread, and we treat the tooth.
What happens at your same-day visit
The $89 exam and X-rays locate the abscess and show which tooth is responsible. Then our dentist does two things: relieves the pressure, and removes the cause.
Relieving pressure may mean draining the abscess through a small opening, which brings fast relief. Removing the cause depends on the tooth: a root canal if the tooth can be saved, or an extraction if it can't. Antibiotics are prescribed when the infection calls for them, but they're a supporting player. The tooth is the source, and the tooth gets treated. Everything is numbed first, and the plan is priced in writing before it starts.
Cost of dental abscess treatment in Lithia Springs
Draining an abscess and doing a root canal isn't the same job as draining it and extracting the tooth, so treatment is quoted in writing after the $89 exam and X-rays, never guessed at over the phone. PPO plans are accepted, and CareCredit financing and in-house payment plans are available. More on the cost and insurance page.
Why patients choose our Lithia Springs office
An abscess can't wait, and our schedule is built for that: same-day appointments during office hours, a phone answered by a real person 24/7 so a swollen face at 10 PM gets the first chair in the morning, and drainage, root canal or extraction all done at one address on Lee Road.
Abscess treatment near you in Lithia Springs
Our office is on Lee Road in the Publix center, three miles south of I-20 exit 41. That's a short drive from Douglasville via Fairburn Road, from Austell via Veterans Memorial Highway, and from Powder Springs down Thornton Road.
Frequently asked questions
Can an abscess go away by itself?
The swelling sometimes goes down when the abscess drains on its own, and people mistake that for healing. The infection is still there, and it comes back, often worse. Untreated, a tooth abscess can spread to the jaw and beyond. Call (770) 802-2220 and get it treated properly.
Should I pop the bump on my gum?
No. Squeezing it can push bacteria deeper into the tissue. Rinse with warm salt water several times a day, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as the label directs, keep the area clean, and let our dentist drain it safely under local anesthetic.
Will I need antibiotics?
Sometimes, particularly if there's swelling in the face or a fever. Antibiotics are always paired with treating the tooth itself; on their own they only pause the infection. If an urgent care already gave you a prescription, keep taking it and still come in to have the source addressed.
How fast does the pain stop after treatment?
Draining the abscess relieves the pressure quickly, often within hours. Soreness in the area can last a couple of days as the tissue calms down. If pain is climbing again a few days after treatment rather than fading, call us; that's not the expected course and we want to see it.