What is
Dental Infection
A dental infection is a pocket of pus caused by bacteria infecting a tooth or surrounding gum tissue, often resulting from an untreated cavity, cracked tooth, or gum disease. Symptoms include severe throbbing tooth or jaw pain, facial swelling, fever, and a foul taste in the mouth. Treatment requires a dental intervention such as a root canal, abscess drainage, or tooth extraction — antibiotics alone control the infection temporarily but do not resolve the underlying cause. Without treatment, the infection can spread to the jaw, neck, or bloodstream, becoming life-threatening. Red flags requiring immediate ER care include difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapidly spreading facial or neck swelling, and high fever with confusion.
Common symptoms
Gum swelling or facial/cheek swelling
Fever or swollen, tender lymph nodes
Bad breath
Tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, or pressure
How your visit works
You'll complete a short online assessment describing your symptoms and health history. A licensed medical provider reviews it — usually within the hour — and determines the safest, most appropriate treatment. If a prescription is appropriate, it's sent directly to your pharmacy.
When to seek in-person or emergency care instead
Seek immediate care if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or swelling in your neck — these can indicate a serious infection that needs emergency treatment.
What happens next
Quick assessment: about 10 minutes, from your phone or computer.
1
Provider review: a licensed medical provider evaluates your case, usually within the hour.
2
Treatment plan: sent to your pharmacy if a prescription is appropriate, in two hours or less.
3
No insurance needed
HIPAA compliant, confidential
Full refund if we can't treat you
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