I've had a dental/tooth abscess for 6 years. how do i get rid of this once and for all?

Wow: If you have had an abcess for 6 years, you should see a dental professional as soon as possible. He/she will be best to assess the abcess and how to treat it properly.

Depends: See a dentist for a definitive evaluation. You may benefit from having a cone beam x ray of the area. This provides a 3 dimensional view of your tooth and the surrounding area. This will help with the diagnosis and therefore the treatment.

Treat the cause: A dental abscess can be from a tooth or a gum (periodontal) problem. Treatment and resolution will depend on the source and cause of the abscess.

Need treatment: The only way to treat am abscess is to treat the source of the infection. It will not go away with antibiotics or other medication alone. See a dentist for a proper exam and diagnosis. They can then review with you the options to treat the infection appropriately and definitively. Good luck, don't let the infection linger for any longer if you can help it.

Root Canal Treatment: If you have had an abscess that is caused by a tooth, the only way to get rid of the abscess is to get rid of what is causing the infection. Usually that entails either removing the tooth or cleaning, disinfecting and sealing the internal canals of the tooth, known as a root canal treatment. If a tooth is not the source, then you need to see a specialist to find out the cause of your infection.

See a dentist: Have the tooth treated. You probably have 2 options: removal of the tooth or a root canal. Consult your dentist and be committed to the treatment that is recommended. Remember, having a chronic infection in your body is not healthy.