Pericoronitis is an infection that affects the soft tissue surrounding your wisdom teeth and the roots of your molars, usually as a result of tooth or gum trauma. It can be very painful and lead to further complications if left untreated. If you’re experiencing discomfort around one or more of your wisdom teeth, pericoronitis may be to blame, so here’s what you need to know about it, what causes it, and how to keep it from getting pericoronitis removal.
Symptoms of Pericoronitis
Soreness in or around your mouth and jaw can be caused by a number of issues, including chewing gum and teeth grinding. One potential issue that has several names, including pericoronitis and retained third molar syndrome, is a painful condition that may result when wisdom teeth don’t fully erupt through your gums. The pain resulting from impacted wisdom teeth has numerous other possible causes; however, if you feel soreness in or around your mouth or jaw when chewing food then you might want to see your dentist to find out what’s causing it. Even if you aren’t experiencing any discomfort right now, there are things you can do to prevent developing pericoronitis.
Possible Causes of Pericoronitis
Wisdom teeth. Since wisdom teeth typically grow in at around 18 years of age, patients may attribute pericoronitis to early-onset wisdom teeth (which is impossible). Although both false and real wisdom teeth can cause irritation, crowding, and poor oral hygiene. The best treatment for pericoronitis is removal of your problematic wisdom tooth(s). This will most likely occur in a specialist’s office under local anesthetic.
Risk Factors for Pericoronitis
Factors that increase your risk of pericoronitis include poor oral hygiene, excessive food intake, and clenching or grinding teeth. Other risk factors include any infection in the mouth (i.e., sore throat, ear infection) or an impacted tooth that isn’t fully in place. In some cases, he might also recommend a root canal instead of removing teeth—but only if it’s absolutely necessary and preferable to surgery.
Surgical Options for Pericoronitis Treatment
Options for treating pericoronitis include surgical removal of a wisdom tooth. If a cyst has formed, it may be best to have a dentist remove your infected wisdom tooth and examine you to determine if there is an underlying cause, such as gingivitis or other dental issues. The dentist may advise rinsing your mouth with salt water before each meal and avoiding hard foods that can hurt your gums until symptoms subside. Once pain relief has been achieved, if it hasn’t come on its own by then, you should contact your dentist so that they can properly diagnose any other dental problems contributing to your pericoronitis.
Recovery from Removal Surgery
A lot of people don’t realize that wisdom teeth removal surgery is a much more serious procedure than it might seem. In fact, it’s actually considered major surgery—similar to any other oral surgery procedure. This means recovery time after wisdom teeth removal is extensive. And can take up to several weeks. In many cases, a patient needs to take special care. Of their mouth and gums after wisdom teeth removal. So they don’t end up with complications like infection or swelling. People have different experiences with pericoronitis after extraction. But there are things you can do to reduce your chances of developing. It in addition to getting professional help at home if you think you might be having symptoms.
FAQ
Who Can Get Pericoronitis? People who have deep cavities that haven’t been removed can get pericoronitis. Smoking or chewing tobacco makes you more likely to get it, too. You also run a higher risk if you have gum disease or have had your wisdom teeth removed.