SickKids logo
Guidelines
Dental Abscess/Facial Swelling of Dental Origin

Dental Abscess/Facial Swelling of Dental Origin

Routine Practices

  • Refer to Clinical Practice Guideline, Dental Abscess with Facial Swelling
  • Surgical elimination of the source of infection via extraction or endodontic treatment and drainage of pus is recommended as soon as clinically possible
  • Obtain purulent specimens for Gram stain, culture, and susceptibility testing

Common Pathogens

Oral anaerobes

Empiric Treatment Infants and Older Children

Use antibiotics as an adjunct to surgical intervention

OR

Duration of Therapy

7 days

For Serious Infections

*For more severe infections, consider coverage for oral anaerobes and S. aureus. Consider ID consult

Beta-lactam Allergy

More Information

SickKids dental abscess and facial swelling CPG, 

Revised 2022