Face Swollen
from a Tooth? Come In Now.
Facial swelling from a dental source is an active infection — and it moves fast. We drain it, treat it, and stop it the same day. Walk in or call right now.
🚨 Go to the ER immediately if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling closing your throat, a fever above 103°F, or swelling spreading rapidly into your neck. These are life-threatening signs. For all other dental swelling — come directly to us.
⚠️ Dental swelling is not something to wait out. The infection causing it is spreading right now — every hour matters.
Your Emergency Dentist Is Right Here.
We built this office for exactly this situation. No waiting room full of checkups — walk in or book online and we'll drain the infection, manage the swelling, and treat the source the same day. Dental abscesses, facial swelling, and spreading infections treated right here.
Symptoms That Mean You Need Us Today
Dental swelling shows up in different ways. These are the warning signs we see every day — and every one of them needs same-day care.
Swollen Cheek or Jaw
Visible puffiness on one side of the face — often warm to the touch — almost always indicates a dental abscess or spreading infection underneath.
Throbbing Pain Alongside Swelling
Pain that pulses in time with your heartbeat, combined with swelling, is a classic abscess presentation. The pressure from the infection needs to be relieved.
Fever with Facial Swelling
A fever tells you your immune system is fighting a systemic infection — the bacteria are no longer contained to the tooth. This needs treatment today.
Swollen or Pus-Filled Gum
A raised, pimple-like bump on the gum — or visible pus — is a draining abscess. Even if it seems to relieve the pain temporarily, the infection remains active.
Difficulty Opening Your Mouth
Trismus — limited jaw opening due to swelling and muscle spasm — indicates the infection has spread beyond the tooth into surrounding soft tissue.
Swelling That Appeared Overnight
Dental infections can double in size within hours. Swelling that wasn't there yesterday and is visibly worse today is spreading rapidly — don't wait another day.
ER or Emergency Dentist?
This is the most important decision when you have facial swelling. Here's exactly how to tell the difference.
🚨 Go to the ER if you have:
🦷 Come directly to us if you have:
Dental Swelling Doesn't Stay Put.
⚠️ The Infection Is Moving Right Now
A dental abscess is not a localized problem — it is an active bacterial infection that follows the path of least resistance through bone, tissue, and muscle. What starts as a swollen cheek can spread to the floor of the mouth, the neck, and in severe cases the airway or bloodstream within 24–48 hours. There is no safe waiting period for dental swelling. Ibuprofen and antibiotics from urgent care can slow it temporarily — they do not drain the source or stop the infection. Only definitive dental treatment does that.
Infection destroys jawbone — making future treatment far more complex
Ludwig's angina — infection of the floor of mouth — can block the airway
Sepsis — bacteria in the bloodstream — is life-threatening
In rare cases, infection can spread to the brain or chest cavity
How We Stop the Infection
Fast. Decisive. Same day. Here's exactly what to expect the moment you walk through our door.
Immediate Exam & Digital X-Rays
We assess the extent of the swelling, take digital X-rays to identify the source tooth and infection, and determine whether the swelling is localized or spreading. You get a clear picture of what you're dealing with — and so do we.
Abscess Drainage — Immediate Relief
If an abscess is present, draining it is the fastest way to relieve pressure and pain. We numb the area completely and drain the infection — most patients feel significant relief almost immediately after this step.
Treatment Plan & Upfront Cost Review
After the immediate threat is addressed, we walk you through your options — root canal to save the tooth, extraction if necessary, or staged treatment if the infection is extensive. You get the full picture and the exact cost before anything further begins.
Same-Day Definitive Treatment
In most cases we treat the source tooth the same day — root canal or extraction — to eliminate the infection at its origin. Stopping at drainage alone leaves the source intact and the infection will return.
Antibiotics, Aftercare & Follow-Up Plan
You leave with antibiotics to clear residual infection, pain management if needed, and clear instructions for monitoring your recovery. We tell you exactly what to watch for and when to seek further care.
Built for Emergencies.
We are not a general dentist squeezing you in between cleanings. Emergency care is all we do — every day, all day.
Days a Week
Open every single day — weekends and holidays included. Infections don't wait for Monday.
Every Day
9AM to 8PM daily. We're open when your regular dentist has already gone home.
Google Rating
60+ verified patient reviews — real patients who came in scared and left with relief.
Referrals Needed
Walk in, call, or book online. No PCP, no specialist referral, no red tape between you and treatment.
Facial Swelling FAQs
Straight answers — no runaround.
Facial swelling from a tooth is almost always caused by a dental abscess — a pocket of bacterial infection that has accumulated at the root of the tooth or in the surrounding gum tissue. As the infection grows, it creates pressure and pushes into the surrounding soft tissue, causing visible swelling in the cheek, jaw, or under the chin. It can also result from a spreading infection following an untreated cavity, cracked tooth, or failed dental work.
No. Dental infections do not resolve on their own. Even if an abscess appears to drain and the pain temporarily decreases, the source of infection remains active. The swelling will return — often worse — and in the meantime the infection continues to damage bone and tissue. Every hour of delay allows the infection to spread further. Come in today.
Yes — absolutely. Antibiotics can slow the spread of infection and reduce swelling temporarily, but they cannot drain the abscess or treat the source tooth. Without definitive dental treatment, the infection will return when the antibiotics are finished. Antibiotics are a bridge — not a cure. You need the source treated to fully resolve the infection.
Yes — walk-ins are always welcome. If you have significant facial swelling, calling ahead at (425) 864-7600 lets our team prepare for your arrival and prioritize your care. You can also book online at any time.
In most cases, yes. We drain the abscess, treat the source tooth — root canal or extraction — and prescribe antibiotics all in the same visit. We'll tell you upfront if the severity of the infection requires a staged approach, and we'll explain exactly why.
We see patients with and without insurance every day. We are a fee-for-service office and accept financing through Cherry, CareCredit, and Proceed Finance — so cost is never a barrier to getting care today. We walk you through all options before treatment begins.
Yes — Spanish-speaking staff is always available. You're welcome to call or walk in and communicate entirely in Spanish.
Real People. Real Relief.
"My face was so swollen I could barely open my mouth. I was terrified. They saw me within the hour, drained the abscess, and started a root canal the same day. The swelling was visibly smaller by that evening. Incredible care."
— Google Review"I'd been to urgent care and gotten antibiotics but the swelling kept coming back. Finally came here — Dr. Lee found the problem tooth immediately, treated it same day, and I haven't had swelling since. Should have come sooner."
— Google Review"Woke up on a Sunday with a jaw so swollen I was scared. Called at 9AM, walked in at 9:15, and Dr. B had me in a chair immediately. They explained everything clearly and treated the infection the same visit. I cannot thank them enough."
— Google ReviewFace Swollen?
Don't Wait. We're Open Now.
Dental swelling is an active infection that spreads by the hour. Same-day treatment, no referral, no waitlist. Call or walk in right now.
Prime Emergency Dental · 22315 Highway 99, Suite G, Edmonds, WA 98026 · Open 9AM–8PM, 7 Days