Dental infections
Refer to the Scottish Dental Formulary.
Treatment of dental abscess
Immediate drainage
Phenoxymethylpenicillin
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg tablets
500mg every 6 hours for 5 days
Phenoxymethylpenicillin 250mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
500mg every 6 hours for 5 days
If penicillin allergic
Metronidazole
Metronidazole 200mg tablets
200mg three times a day for 5 days.
Prescribing Notes:
- Antibiotics are only required if immediate drainage is not achieved with local measure or in case of spreading infection (swelling, cellulitis, lymph node involvement) or systemic involvement (fever, malaise.)
- Please follow SDCEP guidance (Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme) for the most up to date advice on drug treatment.
History Notes
06/10/2022
Removed doxycycline as 2nd line if penicillin allergic and replaced with metronidazole.
15/12/2021
East Region Formulary content agreed.
Treatment of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (Vincent’s infection)
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide 6% solution
Rinse or gargle with 15mL every 8-12 hours for 2-3 minutes, to be diluted in half a tumblerful of warm water.
History Notes
15/12/2021
East Region Formulary content agreed.