What is the direct answer?
Medicine may reduce discomfort from a swollen tooth area, but decay or an abscess requires dental treatment.
What does this question mean?
Swelling can involve the pulp, gum pocket, erupting tooth, or tissues after trauma.
What can you do next?
A dentist may drain infection, clean a root canal, treat the gum, or remove the tooth; tablets alone do not remove a closed source.
When should you seek dental care?
Urgent help is needed for facial or neck swelling, fever, breathing or swallowing difficulty, or restricted mouth opening.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask what structure is swollen and whether drainage, root canal treatment, gum treatment, or extraction is needed.
Frequently asked questions
What should I watch for?
Urgent help is needed for facial or neck swelling, fever, breathing or swallowing difficulty, or restricted mouth opening.
What happens at an appointment?
A dentist may drain infection, clean a root canal, treat the gum, or remove the tooth; tablets alone do not remove a closed source.

