How to tell the difference between a dental abscess or sinusitis?

Appropriate testing: If a tooth in the upper molar/bicuspid region is in close proximity to the sinus, it can be difficult to determine the cause of symptoms. Pulp testing, periodontal probing, and now cone beam ct scanning can help determine the source of symptoms. Often endoscopy of the sinus with an ENT is useful.

Location, drainage: A dental abscess can give pain anywhere in both upper and lower arch. A sinusitis is only affect the upper arch. A dental absess usually will have to drain surrounding a tooth whereas a sinusitis drain into the oral cavity with an oral antral communication. The drug of choice for sinusitis is levaquin, (levofloxacin) for a root canal abscess is clindamycin, and for the gum abscess is metronidazole/amoxicillin.

See a dentist: Sinusitis pain usually can't be pinpointed to a specific tooth, but is "somewhere" related to a back upper tooth. The pain also changes with changing head position. You might also have some nasal congestion or discharge if you have a sinus infection instead of a dental abscess.

Dental abscess: X-ray of the tooth will show a collection around the tooth in an abscess.