Your dentist may drain the abscess to relieve your immediate pain and discomfort, but this won't remove the source of the problem. After diagnosing the extent of the infection causing the abscess, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist to cut away the infected tooth tissue. This is called a root canal, which allows the dead pulp to be removed while preserving as much of the original tooth as possible. It also keeps the bacterial infection from spreading to other parts of your mouth and your body. Your oral surgeon will also prescribe a course of antibiotics.
