Clinical review: Dr. Samreen Ejaz, BDS, RDS ·
Draining it isn’t the whole treatment
An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by infection. Draining it relieves the pressure and pain, but the cause is usually still there. If it comes from a tooth, that tooth will probably need a root canal or an extraction afterwards. Sometimes the source is something else, such as the gum, and needs different treatment. An examination and X-ray tell us which.
When swelling is an emergency
Go to a hospital emergency department straight away if the swelling is spreading fast, you have a fever and feel very unwell, you find it hard to breathe or swallow, or the swelling reaches up towards your eye. Don’t wait for a routine appointment with any of these signs. For other swelling, contact us promptly so we can judge how urgent it is.
What happens at the appointment
If draining it here is the right step, Dr. Samreen will numb the area, explain what she’s doing and make a small opening to let the pus out. Occasionally a small drain is left in for a short while. Antibiotics help in some cases, but they don’t replace treating the tooth. Please don’t try to burst or squeeze an abscess yourself.
Afterwards
Keep the area clean as we show you and take only the medicines we actually prescribe, exactly as directed. Come back before your review date if the swelling grows or you feel unwell. And keep the follow-up appointment for the tooth even once the pain has eased. Feeling better after drainage doesn’t mean the infection has gone.
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Questions about incision and drainage
Will draining it fix the tooth?
No. It relieves the pressure, but the tooth or other source still needs diagnosing and treating.
The swelling burst on its own. Can I wait?
Less pressure doesn’t mean the infection is over. Book a check soon, and get urgent help if the swelling spreads or you feel unwell.
This is general information. What’s right for your tooth depends on what Dr. Samreen finds when she examines it.
Background reading: NHS: dental abscess. These are overseas sources, so their prices and rules don’t apply here.