Treatment of Pericoronitis

(Continued from last week)

Debridement

Debridement of area is done by cleaning the area. The flap is raised and pus and debris are removed by rinsing with water after giving topical anesthesia to the patient. If severe acute symptoms are present, then antibiotics are also prescribed to the patient to reduce the infection.{{more}}

The patient is instructed to do hourly rinses with a solution of a teaspoonful of salt in a glass of warm water. The patient should take more fluids and should maintain good oral hygiene to avoid any food accumulating in the wisdom tooth area. The patient should brush and floss properly to avoid any food deposits. Food deposits will aggravate the pain. Pericoronitis infection can regress in a period of five to seven days. If the tooth doesn’t erupt completely, then food accumulates will keep depositing below the gums and can cause Pericoronitis to recur.

Operculectomy

Operculectomy is the surgical removal of the flap over a partially erupted tooth and can also be done in case of Pericoronitis. The dentist may or may not remove the involved tooth. The dentist will do an examination and will determine whether the tooth can completely come out or not. If the tooth can erupt completely without any complication, then dentist may not do tooth extraction.

If the tooth is to be retained and is not to be pulled out, then surgical procedures, using periodontal knife or electro-surgery, may also be required. After giving anesthesia to the patient, to remove the tissue, a wedge shaped cut is made on the gums. A periodontal pack is given after tissue removal.

Pericoronitis Home Remedy:

1. In initial stage of Pericoronitis, the patient can do rinses with a solutions of a teaspoonful of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse with this solution two to three times a day.

2. The patient should brush his teeth after meals to remove the leftover food particles in mouth. Food particles present over the involved tooth site will aggravate the pain.

Prevention of Pericoronitis:

To prevent chances of Pericoronitis, the patient should maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. This is done to avoid deposits under gums. If Pericoronitis reoccurs, then the flap of the gum tissue is removed by the dentist. the flap of gum tissue may grow back again and in that case, extraction of the wisdom tooth is required.

Complications of Pericoronitis:

1. It may become localized in the form of a pericoronal abscess.

2. Cyst formation can occur in the case of a partially erupted vital tooth.

3. Pericoronitis can cause difficulty in swallowing if it spreads to back soft tissue.

4. Peritonsillar abscess formation, cellulitis, Ludwig’s angina are infrequent, but can occur as a complication of Pericoronitis.

If the involved tooth erupts completely or it is removed, then the condition will not recur.

Dr Keith John

email:drkeithjohn@gmail.com

Clinic: SVG Dental Corporation

Telephone: 784-456-2220

Cell: 784-526-0752