Dental Abscess
Antimicrobial prescribing: NHS Forth Valley
Regular analgesia should be first option and emphasize importance to SEEK TREATMENT FROM A DENTIST.
Antibiotics are usually not indicated for otherwise healthy people at low risk of complications when there are no signs of spreading infection. In the absence of immediate attention by a dentist, only consider prescription of an antibiotic:
- For people who are systemically unwell or if there are signs of severe infection (e.g. fever, lymphadenopathy, cellulitis, diffuse swelling).
- For high-risk individuals to reduce the risk of complications (e.g. immunocompromise, diabetes).
Drug details
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
(Penicillin V)
Consider concomitant treatment with metronidazole if the infection is severe or spreading (lymph node involvement, or systemic signs such as fever or malaise)
1g QDS
5 days
Penicillin allergy:
Metronidazole
400mg TDS
5 days