A localized collection of pus and inflamed tissue located at or around the apical end of a tooth.
An abscess in the socket around the root of a tooth.
An abscess in the bone around the apex of a tooth. An acute abscess is extremely painful and the commonest cause of a swollen face. A chronic abscess may develop spontaneously or after an acute abscess. Its track lo the surface gives rise to a gumboil.