
Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus
Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.nucleusinc.com
An abscessed tooth is a tooth that has a pocket of pus in the tissue
next to it. This often occurs because the inside (pulp) of a tooth is infected
and the bacteria spread to the tissue underneath the tooth. An abscess usually
causes throbbing pain in the tooth and red, swollen gums.