Urgent dental care · Open today
Management of Infection and Swelling
A dental infection will not clear on its own, and antibiotics alone rarely fix it. We find the source, drain the infection and treat the tooth that caused it, so the swelling settles and it does not come back.
Same-day appointments · No registration required · Evenings & weekends
What this treatment is
Drained and treated, not just prescribed
Most dental swelling comes from a dying nerve or a deep pocket around a tooth. Antibiotics can hold it for a few days, but the pressure and the pain only go once the infection is drained and the cause is dealt with. At your appointment we locate the source with an examination and a radiograph, release the pressure the same day where we can, and either open and dress the tooth or remove it. Antibiotics are used where they are clinically justified, alongside treatment rather than instead of it.
- Pressure released the same day — draining the abscess is what stops the pain, and we do it at the first appointment where we can.
- The cause treated, not just the symptom — the tooth is opened and dressed or removed, so the infection has nowhere to return from.
- Prescribing kept appropriate — antibiotics are used where they are clinically justified, alongside treatment rather than instead of it.
Signs you need it
Come in today if you have any of these
Facial swelling can spread quickly. If it is closing your eye, crossing your jawline or making it hard to swallow or breathe, treat it as an emergency and go to A&E.
Facial or gum swelling
A raised, tender area in the gum, or a swollen cheek or jaw on one side of the face.
A bad taste or discharge
Salty or metallic fluid seeping from the gum, which means an abscess is already draining.
Throbbing that wakes you
Deep, constant pain that builds when you lie down and is not controlled by painkillers.
A tooth tender to touch
The tooth feels raised in the bite and hurts to tap or bite on, a classic sign of a root infection.
Feeling generally unwell
A temperature, swollen glands under the jaw, or feeling shivery alongside the toothache.
Swelling that keeps returning
An abscess that settles with antibiotics and flares again weeks later, because the cause is untreated.
What to expect
How the infection is dealt with
Assessment and radiograph
Step 01
We find which tooth is responsible and use a radiograph to see how far the infection has spread into the bone.
Draining the infection
Step 02
Where there is a collection of pus, it is released through the tooth or a small incision in the gum. Relief is usually immediate.
Treating the tooth
Step 03
The tooth is opened and dressed, or removed if it cannot be saved, so the infection has no source to return from.
Review and aftercare
Step 04
We explain how to manage the swelling at home, when to expect it to settle, and book any further treatment.
Price & appointment length
emergency visit, from
The fee covers the examination, radiographs and draining the infection on the day. Treating the tooth itself, whether that is opening and dressing it or removing it, is quoted before we start and confirmed with you first.
| Appointment length | 30–45 minutes |
| Radiographs | Included |
| Drainage | Same day where possible |
| Treatment of the tooth | Quoted before we start |
| Registration | Not required |
Questions
Before you come in
Worried about how fast the swelling is spreading? Call the practice and describe it, and we will tell you where to go.
Can I just have antibiotics?
Antibiotics can reduce a swelling for a few days, but they do not remove the cause, and the infection usually returns once the course finishes. We prescribe them where they are clinically justified, always alongside treating the tooth.
When is swelling an emergency?
If it is closing your eye, spreading below your jawline, or making it difficult to swallow, breathe or open your mouth, go to A&E immediately. Anything short of that, call us and come in the same day.
Will the drainage hurt?
The area is numbed first and the relief once the pressure is released is usually immediate. Infected tissue can be harder to numb, so tell us if you feel anything and we will add more anaesthetic.
Will I lose the tooth?
Not necessarily. Many infected teeth are saved with root canal treatment. If the tooth is broken down or the bone loss is too great, removal is the better option and we will explain why.
What can I do before my appointment?
Rinse with warm salty water, take your usual painkillers as directed, and keep your head raised when you sleep. Do not apply heat to the outside of the face, as it can draw the swelling outwards.
In pain today?
Call the clinic or book online. New patients are welcome, and no registration is required.