What does antibiotics do to a dental abscess?

Can I get rid of an abscess without antibiotics?

• I know that I have MRSA and that it is causing a really bad abscess, but I can't afford to go to the doctor to get the antibiotics right now. The abscess is painful and awkward, and I've been cleaning it regularly with some prescription I got for it the last time I visited the doctor, and I've been packing it like everyone says to do. But will it go away without the pills the doctor gives you?

• Answer:

  Antibiotics only help if they can reach the infection via a blood supply. As abscesses are usually walled off, the usual treatment is to excise -- or cut them out surgically. There are not many oral antibiotics that help with MRSA anyway, but if your doctor prescribed something, my advice is of course to take it as prescribed. The usually treatment for MRSA is IV antibiotics.