Dental Abscess Treatment in Leeds
A dental abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum. It will not clear up by itself, and it can spread quickly. Twilight Dental treats abscesses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at our clinic in Woodhouse, Leeds.
Signs you may have an abscess
- Constant, throbbing pain that may spread to the jaw, ear or neck
- A tooth that feels raised, loose or tender to bite on
- Swelling of the gum, cheek or face
- A bad taste, a salty discharge, or a spot on the gum that keeps coming back
- Sensitivity to hot food and drink, sometimes relieved by cold
- Feeling generally unwell, or a raised temperature
When an abscess becomes an emergency
Go to A&E or call 999 immediately if swelling is closing your eye, spreading under your jaw or down your neck, or if you have difficulty swallowing, opening your mouth or breathing. Infection that spreads into the tissues of the face and neck is a medical emergency.
Short of that, any swelling, fever or pain that painkillers will not touch should be seen the same day. Call 0113 819 7865 — reception is answered around the clock.
What causes a dental abscess?
Untreated decay
Bacteria reach the nerve inside the tooth, the nerve dies, and infection collects at the root tip.
A cracked tooth
A crack lets bacteria into the pulp even when the tooth looks intact.
Failed or old root canal
Infection can persist or return around a previously treated root.
Gum disease
A periodontal abscess forms in a deep gum pocket beside the tooth rather than at the root tip.
Trauma
A knock can kill the nerve months or years before an abscess appears.
A partly erupted wisdom tooth
Food and bacteria trapped under the gum flap cause infection at the back of the jaw.
How we treat an abscess
The principle of treatment is drainage and removal of the source. Antibiotics alone do not cure an abscess, because they cannot reach inside a dead tooth.
- Examination and X-ray to confirm which tooth is involved and how far the infection has spread.
- Drainage. Pressure is released, either through the tooth, through the gum, or by removing the tooth. This is usually the moment the pain lifts.
- Treating the source. Either root canal treatment to clean and seal the root system and save the tooth, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
- Antibiotics where clinically indicated — for example where there is spreading swelling, fever or you are medically compromised — always alongside treatment, never instead of it.
- Review. We check that the infection has settled and complete the definitive treatment.
Save the tooth or take it out?
Where enough sound tooth remains and the roots are treatable, root canal treatment keeps your own tooth in place and is usually the better long-term choice. Where the tooth is broken down below the gum, badly cracked, or has advanced bone loss around it, extraction is often the kinder and more predictable option. We will explain the trade-offs, including what replacing the tooth later would involve, before you decide. Our guide comparing root canals and extractions goes into more detail.
What to do while you wait to be seen
- Take painkillers as directed on the packet; paracetamol and ibuprofen together are more effective than either alone for dental pain, if both are suitable for you.
- Rinse with warm salty water several times a day to encourage drainage from the gum.
- Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow.
- Avoid heat on the face — it can draw infection outwards into the tissues.
- Do not squeeze or burst a swelling yourself.
- Do not rely on a leftover course of antibiotics from a previous problem.
Dental abscess — your questions answered
Will a dental abscess go away on its own?
No. The swelling may burst and the pain may ease for a while, but the infection remains and will flare again. The tooth still needs treating.
Can I get antibiotics without an appointment?
No dentist can responsibly prescribe without examining you, and antibiotics alone do not cure an abscess. We prescribe them where they are clinically justified, as part of treatment.
How quickly can I be seen in Leeds?
We see emergency patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 0113 819 7865 and reception will book you in with the on-call dentist.
Does draining an abscess hurt?
The area is numbed first. Most patients describe immediate relief once the pressure is released, and say the appointment was far less unpleasant than they expected.
My swelling has gone down — do I still need to come in?
Yes. A swelling that settles has usually drained, not healed. The infected tooth is still there and the abscess will return.
Is a dental abscess dangerous?
It can be. Infection that spreads into the face, floor of the mouth or neck can obstruct the airway and needs hospital treatment. Do not leave a swelling untreated.
Can you treat an abscess at the weekend?
Yes, we are open seven days a week including bank holidays.
Swelling or throbbing pain? Call us now.
Reception answers 24 hours a day on 0113 819 7865. We will get you seen and get the pressure off.
