Dental Abscess Treatment in East Finchley | Same-Day Care

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus from a bacterial infection. The symptoms can be severe and hard to ignore. Seek an urgent appointment with us in Finchley if you have a combination of the following: a severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that may radiate to your jaw, neck, or ear; sensitivity to hot and cold; visible swelling in your face, cheek, or gums; a small, pimple like bump on your gums; and a foul taste or smell in your mouth. Some people also develop a fever and feel generally unwell. An untreated abscess is dangerous and the infection can spread, so prompt treatment matters.

Our priority is to relieve your pain quickly. First, we offer a 30 minute emergency consultation with a digital X-ray or a 3D CBCT scan to pinpoint the source of the infection. Next we drain the abscess under local anaesthetic to relieve pressure and pain. Then we address the cause. If the tooth can be saved, a root canal is the best option and takes about 60 to 90 minutes. It involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning the canals, and sealing the tooth. If the tooth is too damaged, extraction may be necessary. Finally, we schedule a follow up to ensure the infection is gone and place a permanent restoration like a crown if needed.

First 24 to 48 hours: you will likely have some tenderness as the anaesthetic wears off. Use over the counter pain relief like ibuprofen and eat soft foods such as soup, yogurt, and scrambled eggs. Avoid chewing on the treated side and rinse gently with warm salt water after 24 hours. First week: swelling and discomfort should lessen each day. Complete any antibiotic course if prescribed. You can return to a normal diet as you feel comfortable, but avoid very hard or crunchy foods on the treated side. Continue to brush and floss your other teeth carefully. Red flags to call us about during office hours include increasing pain after day 3, swelling that gets worse, a fever that does not go down, or trouble swallowing or breathing. For out of hours emergencies with breathing trouble or significant facial swelling, go to the nearest A&E or call 111.

The two main options are a root canal or an extraction. Our aim is to save a natural tooth whenever possible. A root canal has a high success rate and lets you keep the tooth for life with proper care, avoiding the need for a future replacement. If the tooth is too damaged, extraction may be the only viable option. During your visit we will explain the pros and cons for your situation. For example, a patient from Muswell Hill had a severe abscess on a molar. A root canal and crown restored function. In another East Finchley case, a tooth had a deep crack and required extraction, after which we discussed replacing it with an implant.

As a private practice, we show clear pricing for all emergency treatments. The cost of treating a dental abscess depends on the procedure. An emergency consultation with X-rays is a fixed fee. The final cost depends on whether you need a root canal or an extraction. A root canal is more complex and costs more than a simple extraction, but it saves your natural tooth and avoids future replacement costs. We provide a detailed treatment plan with all costs before any work begins. We accept private dental insurance from Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna.

To ensure you receive the best care for this serious condition, here are important questions to ask any dental practice in North London: What is the total cost for the emergency appointment, draining the abscess, and the final treatment (root canal or extraction)? What is the success rate for the proposed treatment? Will I need antibiotics, and for how long? What are the signs of a complication I should watch for after treatment? If the tooth is extracted, what are my options for replacing it and what are the costs and timelines?