Inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth
Medical condition
Pericoronitis
Other names
Operculitis
Pericoronitis associated with the lower right third molar (wisdom tooth).
Specialty
Dentistry
Pericoronitis is inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth,[1] including the gingiva (gums) and the dental follicle.[2] The soft tissue covering a partially erupted tooth is known as an operculum, an area which can be difficult to access with normal oral hygiene methods. The hyponym operculitis technically refers to inflammation of the operculum alone.
Pericoronitis is caused by an accumulation of bacteria and debris beneath the operculum, or by mechanical trauma (e.g. biting the operculum with the opposing tooth).[3] Pericoronitis is often associated with partially erupted and impacted mandibular third molars (lower wisdom teeth),[4] often occurring at the age of wisdom tooth eruption (15-26).[5][6] Other common causes of similar pain from the third molar region are food impaction causing periodontal pain, pulpitis from dental caries (tooth decay), and acute myofascial pain in temporomandibular joint disorder.
Pericoronitis is classified into chronic and acute. Chronic pericoronitis can present with no or only mild symptoms and long remissions between any escalations to acute pericoronitis.[7] Acute pericoronitis is associated with a wide range of symptoms including severe pain, swelling and fever.[3] Sometimes there is an associated pericoronal abscess (an accumulation of pus). This infection can spread to the cheeks, orbits/periorbits, and other parts of the face or neck, and occasionally can lead to airway compromise (e.g. Ludwig's angina) requiring emergency hospital treatment. The treatment of pericoronitis is through pain management and by resolving the inflammation. The inflammation can be resolved by flushing the debris or infection from the pericoronal tissues or by removing the associated tooth or operculum. Retaining the tooth requires improved oral hygiene in the area to prevent further acute pericoronitis episodes. Tooth removal is often indicated in cases of recurrent pericoronitis. The term is from the Greek peri, "around", Latin corona "crown" and -itis, "inflammation".
^Douglass AB, Douglass JM (Feb 1, 2003). "Common dental emergencies". American Family Physician. 67 (3): 511–6. PMID 12588073.
^Cite error: The named reference Fragiskos 2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abLaskaris, George (2003). Color Atlas of Oral Diseases. Thieme. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-58890-138-5. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
^Newman MG, Takei HH, Klokkevold PR, Carranza FA (2012). Carranza's clinical periodontology (11th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Saunders. pp. 103, 133, 331–333, 440, 447. ISBN 978-1-4377-0416-7.
^CA Bartzokas; GW Smith, eds. (1998). Managing Infections: Decision-making Options in Clinical Practice. Informa Health Care. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-85996-171-1. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
^Nguyen DH, Martin JT (Mar 15, 2008). "Common dental infections in the primary care setting". American Family Physician. 77 (6): 797–802. PMID 18386594.
^Moloney J, Stassen LFA (June–July 2009). "Pericoronitis: treatment and a clinical dilemma" (PDF). Journal of the Irish Dental Association. 55 (4): 190–192. PMID 19753908.
in temporomandibular joint disorder. Pericoronitis is classified into chronic and acute. Chronic pericoronitis can present with no or only mild symptoms...
a pathology, such as caries or pericoronitis, treatment can be dental restoration for cavities and for pericoronitis, salt water rinses, local treatment...
underlying systemic disease.: 437–438 Clinical & xray correlation of pericoronitisPericoronitis is inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of...
infection, pericoronitis results. Another common cause is entrapment of food beneath the gum flap (also called an operculum). Pericoronitis can present...
oral bacteria through deep periodontal pocket, can develop cavities or pericoronitis. Removal of impacted wisdom teeth is advised for the future prevention...
cause. Others may be involved in other mouth or gingival infections as pericoronitis. If they are introduced into the bloodstream, they have the potential...
patients should be referred urgently further management.[citation needed] Pericoronitis is defined as inflammation in the soft tissues surrounding the crown...
abscess: involving the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a tooth (see: Pericoronitis) Combined periodontic-endodontic abscess: a situation in which a periapical...
deep fillings, failed root canal treatments, periodontal disease, and pericoronitis. Odontogenic infection starts as localised infection and may remain...
progression of gingivitis in well-controlled diabetes. Medicine portal Pericoronitis "Full width gingivitis" of orofacial granulomatosis Desquamative gingivitis...
affected, or general where all the lymph nodes of the body are affected. Pericoronitis Staphylococcal lymphadenitis Mycobacterial lymphadenitis Rubella Cat...
and induration of the skin involving facial region can cause trismus Pericoronitis (inflammation of soft tissue around impacted third molar) is the most...
antifungal solution. Antiseptic lavages are commonly used as a treatment to pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. Applying antibacterial solutions to wash out wounds...
grow normally into the mouth) cause recurrent infections of the gum (pericoronitis), and may be removed when other conservative treatments have failed...
or fully erupted tooth. Usually associated with an acute episode of pericoronitis around a partially erupted and impacted mandibular third molar (lower...
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