When can an abscessed tooth be removed? i have been taking 250 mligrams of penicillin 4 times a day since 2pm 4/9/12.i will take the last pill at 2 am4/16/12. the abscess has not come to a head.my gum is still swollen and my cheek and under my chin. tha

Was : Was the antibiotic prescribed for you by your dentist, or are you self medicating? If it was prescribed by your dentist, then you should call your dentist and explain that you have been taking the antibiotic for a week and the infection has not subsided. If you are self medicating, then you need to call a dentist for an appointment to have your problem diagnosed and treated.

Typically, : Typically, a course of antibiotics will not permanently treat an infection if it is associated the death of the nerve in tooth. Some type of definitive treatment must occur, such as root canal or extraction, in order to remove the source of infection. You need to see you dentist to diagnose and manage the source of the infection.

Depends: Penicillin is common to short circuit the abscess progression and to allow time to figure out what is possible and desirable to to do next. If the tooth is restorable, then treat the source of infection, a root canal would be appropriate and save the tooth. If it is un-restorable, then removal is indicated. Both procedures remove the source of infection rather than treat abscess. Let dentist rx.

Diagnosis: Make sure you go to your dentist and be properly diagnosed with proper antibiotics prescribed for you and the doctor will let you know when it's best for you to return for either an extraction or root canal, which ever you decide.

Usually right away.: Since the source of the infection is the tooth, removal of the tooth will start the path to healing. Most abscessed teeth can be removed right away, although it may be more difficult to get you numb. Unless it is a serious infection such as a cellulitis, removal of the infected tooth as soon as possible is a good choice. A good dentist will be able to get you numb and take it out.

While taking meds: This my opinion. Generally the best time to extract a tooth is a few days into the course of antibiotics. Two or three days the meds begin to work and help make it easier to get you numb. After the extraction you finish the meds to eliminate any residual infection.