A tooth abscess is a collection of pus that forms inside a tooth or its surrounding structures. The abscess itself is one of the later stages of tooth decay, and typically occurs before tooth loss.

Full mouth debridement (FMD) is a nonsurgical dental procedure that removes heavy plaque and tartar buildup. It helps your dentist examine teeth and gums more accurately. Scaling and root planing is a ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...

Gum disease — medically known as periodontitis — affects 47.2% of adults over age 30 in the U.S. About 8.5% of them may have severe periodontitis. Gum disease is a severe infection or inflammation of ...

Flavio Pisani does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...