Would you know if you had a dental abscess?

Not necessarily: Some dental infections develop slowly and do not show symptoms until they become acute. I see this all the time. See your dentist for a clinical exam and x-rays which together can determine whether or not you have a chronic or acute infection or some other dental problem... Or perhaps nothing at all.

Possibly: Sometimes a dental abscess will have no symptoms. Your dentist, with a clinical exam and a radiograph, coupled with years of experience, can tell for sure.

Dental abscess: A tooth abscess won't go away without treatment and the infection may spread to your jaw, cheeks, sinus and to other areas of your head and neck. A dental abscess is a collection of pus that forms in your teeth or gums as a result of a bacterial infection. Dentist will treat a tooth abscess by draining it and getting rid of the infection. See your dentist asap.