According to statistics, the incidence rate of pericoronitis falls at six to ten percent, while 40 to 59 percent people extract their wisdom tooth because of the inflammatory dental condition. But, what is pericoronitis – its definition, causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention?
Around six months old, we develop our first set of teeth or baby teeth. As we age, we lose our primary teeth to make way for our permanent teeth. Our permanent teeth are the second set of teeth to break through the gums. Usually comprised of 32 teeth, the adult teeth are composed of six maxillary molars, six mandibular molars, four maxillary premolars, four mandibular premolars, two maxillary canines, two mandibular canines, four maxillary incisors, and four mandibular incisors. Aside from the primary and permanent teeth, we develop a third and final set of teeth commonly referred to as wisdom teeth which are located at the back of the mouth and do not develop in the womb, unlike the primary and permanent teeth. Our wisdom teeth can develop in one of these five ways: generally correct or vertical, mesial which is bent toward the front of the mouth, distal which crooked towards the back of the mouth, at 90-degree angle, or failure to completely break through the gums. But, when the wisdom tooth does not erupt fully, it can lead to pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is the swelling or inflammation of the gum tissue around the surface or crown of a partially erupted tooth. The gingival tissue overlaps the chewing surface of the tooth. Pericoronitis is colloquially referred as the “wisdom tooth infection” because it usually affects the wisdom teeth. The dental condition can be chronic or acute. A chronic pericoronitis is a mild and persistent inflammation with minor or no symptoms at all. An acute pericoronitis is severe with wide-range symptoms including swelling, pain, or fever, indicating the spread of the infection. Pericoronitis is caused by the accumulation of bacteria that can lead to the formation of the abscess under the overlapping gum flap known as an operculum. Because of the partial eruption of the wisdom tooth, an opening is created where bacteria and food particles can enter. If not given attention, the infection can extend to the jaw, cheeks, and the neck. Symptoms of pericoronitis include pain, gum swelling, redness and tenderness of the gums, bad taste in the mouth, swelling of the lymph nodes, difficulty with mouth opening and swallowing, bad breath, fever, and loss of appetite. Through the occurrence of symptoms, clinical evaluation, and dental X-rays, pericoronitis can be diagnosed. A dental X-ray can identify the position of the wisdom tooth and access the possible causes of the pain and inflammation. Any licensed dentist is qualified to make the diagnosis and treat the dental problem. However, severe and complicated cases may require specialized dentists like an oral surgeon and a periodontist. Pain and inflammation management, surgery, and extracting the wisdom tooth are options to manage and treat pericoronitis. When symptoms are noticed, visit your dentist as soon as possible for the proper diagnosis and treatment. He or she may prescribe pain relievers and antibiotics to help manage the pain and soothe the inflammation. You can also undergo oral surgery to remove the gum flap which will allow more access to the area and enable proper cleaning to prevent bacteria build-up. The most common treatment option available is the extraction of the wisdom tooth. For mild cases of inflammation, you rinse with warm salt water or with diluted hydrogen peroxide to minimize the swelling. However, for severe cases, it is best to seek proper care from a dental professional. Depending on the intensity, pericoronitis can last for days or weeks but can be treated in around a week or two. To prevent pericoronitis, thorough oral hygiene regimen and a visit to the dentist is recommended.
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January 2018
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