Dental Abscess: Symptoms, Treatment and When It Is an Emergency
- Star Light Dental
- March 4, 2026
- [email protected]
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth. It is one of the most painful dental problems there is, and one of the few that can become genuinely dangerous if it is ignored.
The most important thing to know is that an abscess does not heal without treatment. The pain may ease for a while, but the infection is still there. Here is how to recognise one and what to do.
1. What Causes a Dental Abscess?
There are two main types. A periapical abscess forms at the tip of a tooth root when bacteria reach the nerve, usually through deep decay, a crack or an old injury. A periodontal abscess forms in the gum beside a tooth and is usually linked to gum disease or something lodged under the gum.
Either way, the body walls off the infection, pus builds up and the pressure causes pain.
2. Symptoms to Watch For
- a severe, throbbing toothache that can spread to the ear, jaw or neck
- pain when biting or touching the tooth
- sensitivity to hot and cold
- a swollen, shiny or red area of gum, sometimes with a pimple that leaks a foul-tasting fluid
- swelling of the face or cheek
- tender, swollen glands under the jaw
- fever and feeling generally unwell
If the pain suddenly stops, do not assume the problem has gone. It often means the nerve has died or the abscess has burst. The infection remains and will flare again.
3. When It Is an Emergency
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 000 if you have swelling that is spreading towards your eye, under your jaw or down your neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, trouble opening your mouth, or a high fever. Infections that spread from a tooth can become life threatening. Liverpool Hospital has the nearest emergency department to Prestons.
For pain and swelling without those signs, call us as early in the day as you can. Same-day emergency appointments are available most days.
4. Why Antibiotics Alone Are Not Enough
Antibiotics can calm an infection that is spreading, but they cannot reach the source, which is dead tissue sealed inside the tooth or a deep pocket in the gum. Once the course finishes, the abscess returns. Antibiotics are prescribed only when there is swelling, fever or other signs of spread, and always alongside dental treatment, not instead of it.
5. How a Dental Abscess Is Treated
- Drainage. Releasing the pus relieves the pressure, and with it most of the pain, very quickly.
- Root canal treatment. The infected nerve is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected and sealed, which saves the tooth.
- Extraction. If the tooth cannot be saved it is removed, and we talk to you about options for replacing it.
- Gum treatment. For a periodontal abscess, the pocket is cleaned out thoroughly.
We start with an examination and an X-ray, get you comfortable, and explain the options and costs before anything further is done.
6. Until You Can Be Seen
- Take your usual pain relief as directed on the pack. Do not place aspirin on the gum.
- Rinse gently with warm salty water.
- Avoid very hot or cold food and drink, and chew on the other side.
- Sleep with your head raised on an extra pillow.
- Do not try to burst or squeeze the abscess.
Prevention is simple: regular check-ups catch decay and cracked fillings long before they reach the nerve.
Do Not Wait for It to Go Away
If you think you have an abscess, call Star Light Dental in Prestons on (02) 9432 2833 now. The earlier in the day you call, the better the chance of being seen the same day.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for an examination by a dentist or doctor.