A dental abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum beside it, and it won't clear up on its own. Call (561) 652-5796 for a same-day visit at our Hypoluxo Rd office in Lake Worth. We drain the infection, treat its source and help you feel better.
The $99 is a minimum fee for patients paying without insurance. It covers a limited, problem-focused emergency exam (ADA code D0140) and the X-ray needed to diagnose the tooth. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Open 7 days a week · Same-day appointments · $99 exam + X-ray · Se habla español
Signs of a tooth abscess that needs treatment today
An abscess forms when bacteria get deep into a tooth or under the gum and the body walls them off. Pus builds up with nowhere to go, and the pressure is what hurts. Watch for:
- A throbbing pain that may spread to the jaw, neck or ear.
- Swelling in the gum, cheek or under the jaw.
- A small pimple-like bump on the gum, sometimes leaking a salty or bitter fluid.
- A bad taste or smell that brushing doesn't fix.
- Tenderness when you bite, or a tooth that feels loose.
- Fever, or a general run-down feeling.
If the bump bursts and the pain drops, the infection is still there. It has only found a small way out, and it can flare again.
Go to a hospital emergency room right away if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if you have a high fever, or if it's hard to breathe or swallow. The closest hospital emergency room to our office is Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital West on Boynton Beach Blvd. JFK Medical Center on Congress Ave in Atlantis is another option. Once you're stable, call us so we can treat the tooth.
What happens at your same-day visit
The dentist looks at the swelling, tests the nearby teeth and takes an X-ray to find exactly where the infection started. Then we explain what we found and give you the treatment price in writing.
First, we relieve the pressure. That usually means draining the abscess through a small opening in the gum or through the tooth itself, with the area numbed. Most people feel the throbbing ease soon after.
Next, we deal with the source, because draining alone won't stop it from coming back. Depending on the tooth, that's a root canal to clear the infected pulp, or removal of a tooth that can't be saved (see emergency tooth extraction). For a gum abscess, we clear out the pocket and the debris that caused it.
If the infection has spread, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics alongside the treatment. You'll go home with written instructions and our 24/7 number.
Cost of dental abscess treatment in Lake Worth
For patients paying without insurance, the visit begins with the $99 exam and X-ray. Drainage, root canal or extraction is priced separately, and you'll get that price in writing before any work starts.
Most PPO and HMO dental plans and Medicare Advantage dental plans are accepted, and the exam and X-ray are billed to your plan. In-house payment plans, plus Sunbit, Cherry and CareCredit financing, are available too. Details are on our cost and insurance page.
Why patients choose our Hypoluxo Rd office
- An infection doesn't keep office hours, so we see emergencies seven days a week.
- Weekdays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Same-day emergency appointments; please call first.
- Our phones are answered 24/7, and after-hours callers get the first opening.
- Spanish-speaking staff during office hours.
- Parking on site.
Abscess treatment near you in central Palm Beach County
We're on Hypoluxo Rd near Lyons Rd, between Jog Rd and State Road 7 in western Lake Worth. Patients from Atlantis can come west on Lantana Rd, south on Military Trail and then west on Hypoluxo Rd. From Boynton Beach, Hypoluxo Rd west from Congress Ave is the direct route. Wellington patients usually head south on State Road 7 and then east on Hypoluxo.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tooth abscess go away without treatment?
No. It may drain on its own and feel better for a while, but the bacteria stay inside the tooth or gum. Without treatment, it usually returns and can spread into the jaw or neck. Getting it treated early keeps the fix simpler.
Will antibiotics alone cure an abscessed tooth?
Antibiotics can calm a spreading infection, but they don't remove its source. Once the course ends, the infection often comes back. Draining it and treating the tooth with a root canal or extraction is what ends it.
Should I pop a gum abscess myself?
No. Squeezing or poking it can push bacteria deeper and damage the gum. Rinse with warm salt water, keep the area clean and call us. We drain it safely with the area numbed.
Is a swollen face from a tooth an emergency?
Yes, especially if it's growing. Facial swelling means the infection has moved beyond the tooth. Call us right away for a same-day visit. If the swelling is near your eye, under your tongue, or making it hard to breathe or swallow, go to a hospital emergency room first.