A swollen, throbbing gum with a foul taste usually means an abscess, a pocket of pus around a tooth's root tip, and it needs a dentist today. Call (210) 807-8793 or walk into our Stone Oak office, open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm. We drain and treat abscesses here.
The emergency exam and X-rays are $125. The $125 covers the emergency exam and diagnostic X-rays. Any treatment is a separate fee, quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Open 7 days, 8am to 8pm · Same-day appointments · Walk-ins welcome · Se habla español
Go to a hospital emergency room first, not to us, if the swelling has spread to your eye, cheek or neck, if a fever has set in, or if it's taking effort to swallow or breathe. Methodist Stone Oak Hospital and North Central Baptist Hospital are both in Stone Oak. Call us once you're released; the tooth still needs treatment.
Signs you need dental abscess treatment today
An abscess forms when bacteria get past the enamel, by way of a deep cavity or a crack line, and infect the nerve inside the tooth. Pus builds at the root tip with nowhere to go, and the pressure is what makes the pain throb. The gum over the root swells. Sometimes a small pimple appears on it and leaks a bitter fluid, which eases the pressure for a while. That's the body finding an exit, not the infection clearing.
Signs that call for a same-day visit: a tooth that's tender to the lightest touch, swelling in the gum or face, a bad taste or smell that doesn't go away, swollen glands under the jaw, and pain that keeps you up. A toothache that suddenly stopped and then came back with swelling is a classic abscess story: the nerve died, and the infection kept growing.
What happens at your same-day visit
Locating the infection comes first: X-rays show where it sits and how deep into the bone it has gone. Our dentists examine the swelling, test the tooth and its neighbors, and identify the source. You get the diagnosis and the written fee before anything is done.
The first job is drainage, because that's what brings relief. Once the area is numb, the dentist opens a path for the pus to escape, through the tooth itself or through a small cut in the gum, and rinses the pocket with saline. Pressure drops as soon as the pus is out.
Draining an abscess treats the symptom. The source is still a dead nerve or a split root, and the infection returns unless that's dealt with. When the tooth can be saved, an emergency root canal cleans out the infected canals and seals them, often at the same visit. When the tooth is too broken or decayed to keep, an emergency tooth extraction removes it along with the infection at its root. We explain both options before you decide.
Antibiotics are prescribed when they're indicated: when the infection has spread beyond the tooth into the surrounding tissue, when there's a fever, or when a medical condition makes infections harder to fight. They aren't a substitute for treating the tooth.
Cost of dental abscess treatment in San Antonio
The $125 covers the exam and the X-rays. Treatment is a separate fee, quoted in writing after the exam, and it depends on what the tooth needs: drainage by itself, drainage followed by a root canal, or removal of the tooth. We accept cash, cards and most major PPO plans. Our cost and insurance page explains the process step by step.
Why patients choose our Stone Oak office
The office is open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday included. Walk-ins get seen; phone first and the room will be waiting for you. After 8pm a live answering service picks up, and we hold you the first opening at 8am. Our office staff speak Spanish. We accept cash, cards and most major PPO plans. Parking is on site. The practice opened in 2025, and our dentists are licensed in Texas.
Dental abscess treatment near you in north San Antonio
We're at 18911 Hardy Oak Blvd Ste 221, San Antonio, TX 78258, on Hardy Oak Blvd in Stone Oak, a mile north of Loop 1604 and a mile west of US 281, near Methodist Stone Oak Hospital. From Hollywood Park, take Stone Oak Pkwy to E Sonterra Blvd, then Hardy Oak Blvd, about 7 to 10 minutes. From Hill Country Village, follow San Pedro Ave north along the US 281 frontage to Loop 1604, then Hardy Oak Blvd, 10 to 15 minutes. From Shavano Park, it's Northwest Military Hwy to Loop 1604, then east to Huebner Rd, 13 to 18 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I treat a dental abscess with antibiotics only?
Not for long. A course of antibiotics may shrink the swelling and slow things down, but it leaves the cause untouched: a dead nerve or a fractured root doesn't heal with pills. Once the prescription is finished, the pocket of pus refills. What actually ends an abscess is draining it, then either a root canal or removal of the tooth.
Is it safe to squeeze the pimple on my gum?
Leave it alone. Pressing on it forces bacteria further into the tissue and can push the infection outward. If it bursts by itself, swish with warm salt water, then call us that day. You'll feel relief as the pressure drops, but the infection beneath it hasn't gone anywhere and still has to be treated properly.
Is a dental abscess dangerous?
It can be. An infection that spreads from the jaw into the neck or toward the eye can become a medical emergency within hours. That's why swelling of that kind, a fever, or difficulty swallowing sends you to a hospital emergency room ahead of any dental visit. A contained abscess treated promptly is a routine dental problem.