Pediatric Dental Abscess Treatment in Noblesville, IN
Swelling, a gum boil, or fever with tooth pain? Call us today.
A dental abscess is a pocket of infection, most often from a deep cavity or a tooth that was injured. It doesn’t clear up by itself, and without treatment it can spread.
If your child has tooth pain but none of the signs below, our pediatric toothacheClick to open in this tab guide is a good place to start.
Reach out right away if you spot:
Give us a call at (317) 773-5437Click to call us today. Head to an emergency room instead if your child can’t open their mouth fully, has a hard time breathing or swallowing, or the swelling is spreading toward an eye or into the neck.
Once you arrive at Smiling Kids Pediatric DentistryClick to open in this tab in Noblesville, IN, we’ll ask when the swelling or pain began and whether your child has run a fever. We’ll explain what we find and go over the options with you before any treatment starts.
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Step 1: Find the Source
A careful exam and dental X-raysClick to open in this tab show which tooth is infected and how far the infection has reached.
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Step 2: Calm the Infection
Depending on what we see, that may mean draining the area or prescribing an antibiotic after the exam, especially when there’s a fever or facial swelling.
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Step 3: Save or Remove the Tooth
If the tooth can be saved, pulp therapyClick to open in this tab removes the infected nerve tissue and a crown protects what’s left. If too much damage has been done, removing the tooth is the healthier choice.
If the tooth can be saved, pulp therapyClick to open in this tab removes the infected nerve tissue and a crown protects what’s left. If too much damage has been done, removing the tooth is the healthier choice.
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Can you call in an antibiotic without seeing my child?
We need to examine your child first. An abscess has to be treated at the tooth, and an antibiotic is only one piece of that plan when it’s needed at all.
Call us and we’ll get your child in as soon as their symptoms require.
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What is a gum boil?
It’s a small bump on the gums where infection is draining from a tooth. It may not hurt, which is why it’s easy to miss.
Don’t squeeze or pop it. Call us so we can find the tooth it’s coming from.
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Can a baby tooth with an abscess be saved?
Sometimes. If enough healthy root and tooth structure remain, treating the nerve with pulp therapy, then capping the tooth with a crown, can keep it in place until its natural time to come out.
If the infection has caused too much damage, removing the tooth protects the permanent one underneath. If a back baby tooth has to come out early, a space maintainerClick to open in this tab can hold room for the adult tooth.
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Is it okay to wait until the swelling goes down?
No. Swelling can come and go, but the infection stays until the tooth is treated, and it can flare up again at any time.
Call us today. If swelling is spreading quickly or your child seems very sick, get emergency care right away. You’ll find other urgent situations on our dental emergenciesClick to open in this tab page.
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What can we do at home before the visit?
Offer soft foods and plenty of fluids, give a children’s pain reliever as the label directs, and rest a cloth-wrapped cold pack against the cheek. Avoid heat on the swollen area.
Don’t give leftover antibiotics from an old prescription. They may not be the right medicine or dose, and they won’t fix the tooth.
Choose Specialized Care for
Your Child’s Smile
Schedule your child's consultation and begin a steady journey of lifelong oral health.
9669 E. 146th St., Ste 260
Noblesville, IN 46060
Phone: 317-773-5437Click to call us
Email: info@smilingkidspeds.comClick to open in new tab
Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
9240 N. Meridian St., Ste 250
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: 317-580-9199Click to call us
Email: info@smilingkidspeds.comClick to open in new tab
Monday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
