What is the predominant cell type found in the pus (exudate) of a dental abscess?

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) are the predominant cells in pus and the exudate of dental abscesses. They are the first responders of the innate immune system, recruited to sites of infection within hours by chemical signals. Neutrophils phagocytose and kill bacteria through oxidative burst mechanisms, degranulation, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The accumulation of dead neutrophils, bacterial debris, and tissue breakdown products forms the thick pus characteristic of an abscess. While monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes are important in chronic inflammation and immune responses, neutrophils dominate in acute purulent infections such as dental abscesses.