What Is
It?
Your wisdom teeth (third molars) usually start to erupt (enter your
mouth) during late adolescence. Sometimes, there's not enough room
for them, and they come in partially or not at all. This condition
can lead to pericoronitis, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the
tooth. When only part of the tooth has erupted into the mouth, it can
create a flap of gum tissue that easily holds food particles and debris
and is a hotbed for bacteria. Pericoronitis also can occur around a
wisdom tooth that has not erupted at all and is still under the gums.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Painful, swollen gum tissue in the area of the affected tooth, which can
make it difficult to bite down comfortably without catching the swollen tissue
between your teeth
- A bad smell or taste in the mouth
- Discharge of pus from the gum near the tooth
More serious symptoms include:
- Swollen lymph nodes under your chin (the submandibular nodes)
- Muscle spasms in the jaw
- Swelling on the affected side of the face
Diagnosis
Pericoronitis is diagnosed during a clinical exam. Your dentist will see inflamed gum tissue in the area of the unerupted or partly erupted wisdom tooth. The gums may be red, swollen or draining fluid or pus.
Expected Duration
Pericoronitis can be managed with antibiotics and warm salt water rinses, and the condition should go away in approximately one week. However, if the partially erupted tooth fails to completely enter the mouth and food debris and bacteria continue to accumulate under the flap of gums, pericoronitis will more than likely return.
Prevention
You can help to prevent pericoronitis by practicing good oral hygiene on any erupting wisdom tooth to make sure that food particles and bacteria do not accumulate under the gums. However, if these steps do not work and pericoronitis returns, it may be necessary to have the overlying flap of gum tissue removed. In some cases, the wisdom tooth may need to be extracted.
Treatment
Pericoronitis can be tricky to treat because the flap of gum tissue won't go
away until the wisdom tooth emerges naturally or until the tissue is removed.
Your dentist will clean the area thoroughly to remove damaged tissue or pus.
If the area is infected, you'll be given oral antibiotics.
Your dentist will give you instructions for keeping the area clean, which
is the best way to prevent the problem from returning. This usually involves
brushing and flossing daily and rinsing your mouth with water several times
a day. This will help prevent food particles from accumulating in the area.
In some cases, your dentist may suggest you have your tooth extracted once
pericoronitis is under control. If your dentist thinks the tooth may erupt
fully into the mouth without problems, he or she may leave it alone. However,
if pericoronitis recurs, the tooth may be extracted.
Pericoronitis that causes symptoms should be treated as soon as possible.
If it is not, the infection can spread to other areas of your mouth. The most
severe cases are treated in a hospital and may require intravenous antibiotics
and surgery.
When To Call A Professional
If you are experiencing symptoms of pericoronitis, make an appointment to see your dentist. If your wisdom teeth are coming in, visit your dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups. During those visits, he or she can check on the progress of your wisdom teeth.
Prognosis
Pericoronitis does not cause any long-term effects. If the affected tooth is removed or erupts fully into the mouth, the condition cannot return. For advanced cases requiring hospitalization, antibiotics usually will treat the infection, after which the tooth can be removed.
Additonal Info
American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-440-2500
Fax: 312-440-2800
http://www.ada.org/ |
