Pericoronitis: symptoms, causes, treatment etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is pericoronitis?

Pericoronitis is a type of mouth disorder. This condition occurs when there is swollen and inflamed gum tissue around the teeth. The teeth that are commonly affected are wisdom teeth, third molars and last molars.

One of the main causes of this condition is the molars that do not come out completely, which is known as impacted teeth. In addition, inflammation often attacks the lower gum tissue, not the top.

Pericoronitis is different from gum disease (periodontitis), in that this condition is specific to the area around the growing tooth. The cause of this condition resembles the formation of a gum abscess in periodontitis, where food debris gets trapped under the gum tissue.

This condition can be acute or chronic. Chronic pericoronitis tends to produce mild inflammatory symptoms. In acute cases, the symptoms are more severe, such as fever, swelling, and infection.

Your dentist may suggest that you remove the gum tissue or remove the affected tooth. After that, the doctor will provide treatment that focuses on managing the symptoms.

How common is pericoronitis?

Pericoronitis is a fairly common oral disease. Usually, this disease is more common in people who have just entered the age of 20. This condition is very rare in patients under 20 years and over 40 years.

The incidence of this disease in patients aged 20 to 29 years is 81%. Meanwhile, one of the main factors that trigger the emergence of this condition is poor oral hygiene.

Pericoronitis is a disease that can be treated by recognizing existing risk factors. To find out more information about this disease, you can consult your doctor.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pericoronitis?

The signs and symptoms of pericoronitis generally vary, depending on whether the patient's condition is acute or chronic.

The following are signs and symptoms that occur in acute cases:

• Pain in the back of the tooth
• Swelling of the gum tissue (due to fluid buildup)
• Pain when swallowing
• Presence of infection
• Trouble sleeping
• Difficulty opening your mouth (trismus)
• Swollen lymph glands in the neck

In addition, there are several additional symptoms that indicate that this disease is chronic, namely:

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Mild pain or numbness that lasts for 1-2 days
• Pus appears from the gums, so that the mouth feels bad

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a dentist?

For severe pericoronitis accompanied by fever and inflammation, home treatment is not recommended, and proper treatment must be carried out by a professional. Contact your dentist if you have severe pericoronitis.

Cause

What are the causes of pericoronitis?

Pericoronitis can occur when a patient experiences tooth impact, which is a condition in which wisdom teeth or molars cannot come out completely. Under normal conditions the teeth should come out of the gums completely. However, in this condition, the tooth only grows part of the gum.

This condition causes bacteria to easily enter between the teeth, so that infection occurs. In the case of this disease, food or plaque can build up and get stuck in the gum folds around the teeth. If the buildup is left for too long, the gums can become irritated.

If the irritation and inflammation get worse, there will be swelling and infection that will spread to the jaw.

Risk factors

What factors increase the risk of developing pericoronitis?

Pericoronitis is a disease that can happen to anyone, regardless of age group or racial group. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of experiencing the symptoms.

Having one or more of the risk factors does not mean you will definitely have a disease. There is also a low chance of developing this condition even though you don't have any of the risk factors.

The following are the factors that can trigger this condition:

1. Age

As many as 81% of sufferers of this disease are included in the 20-29 years age group. This condition rarely occurs in people under the age of 20 or over 40.

Therefore, if you fall into that age group, your chances of getting this disease are much greater.

2. Oral hygiene

One of the main factors that trigger problems in the mouth, including pericoronitis, especially those of an acute nature, is poor oral hygiene.

A dirty mouth is very prone to infection. Therefore, if you do not maintain your oral hygiene properly, your risk of developing this condition is higher.

3. Stress

Reportedly, at least 66% of cases of this disease are caused by emotional problems, such as stress. If you experience frequent stress and stress, your chances of suffering from this disease are greater.

4. Suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection

Apart from stress, another health problem that has been linked to inflammation of the gums is an upper respiratory tract infection. As many as 43% of cases of this disease are associated with upper respiratory tract infections.

5. Pregnancy

Although it is not certain why, pregnancy is also associated with problems or problems with the mouth and gums. Therefore, your risk for experiencing this disease is higher if you are pregnant.

6. Wisdom teeth or molars that do not come out perfectly

If you have wisdom teeth or molars that are not fully grown, your chances of developing inflammation of the gums around the teeth are greater.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is pericoronitis diagnosed?

The dentist will usually find pericoronitis during a routine evaluation or clinical examination, or when you are being examined for other dental problems.

When diagnosing, the doctor will check your wisdom teeth and molars for inflammation, redness, or pus coming out of the gums.

In addition, the doctor will also check if there is a crease or tear in the gum where it is affected. Sometimes, the doctor will advise you to do an X-ray test.

How is pericoronitis treated or treated?

Your dentist will consider what type of treatment and treatment is right for you, depending on your medical condition and needs. The following are the focus of treatment for pericoronitis:

• Control or reduce pain around the molars
• Removing the gum layer or fold that covers the impact
• Removing teeth that do not come out completely

If you have pain due to teeth that are about to grow, your dentist may prescribe several types of medication that can help relieve the pain.

During the process of removing plaque and food particles from your gums, your doctor will apply a local anesthetic so you don't feel any pain or soreness. After that, the doctor will also prescribe ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

If there is inflammation or infection, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic, such as penicillin or erythromycin (Erythrocin Stearate).

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes, prevention, or home remedies that can be done to treat pericoronitis?

Here are some tips that you can do to deal with and prevent inflammation of the gums around your molars.

1. Maintain oral hygiene

The most important thing that you must prioritize is to always keep your teeth and mouth clean. By regularly brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day and cleaning food debris from between your teeth, you will reduce your risk of developing oral disease.

2. Be diligent in visiting the dentist

You should also be diligent about seeing the dentist, at least every 6 months. This can help prevent dental and mouth problems, and detect early if there are certain diseases.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.