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Pericoronite

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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Pericoronitis is a dental disease, which is the inflammation of the gum around the erupting tooth. Let's consider the features of pericoronitis, methods of diagnosis, methods of treatment and prevention.

The disease is manifested during teething and can appear in both adults and children. Pericoronitis causes swelling of the gums, severe cutting pain when swallowing, opening the mouth and in the area of the erupting tooth. Because of the disease, the patient feels a general weakness, it is also possible the appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste and odor in the mouth. Teeth that fail to erupt and cause pericoronitis can cause damage and injuries to adjacent teeth, and therefore must be removed immediately.

Pericoronite with the appearance of wisdom teeth causes inflammation of the gingival hood. Inflamed gingival tissue grows on the erupting tooth and delivers a lot of painful sensations during eating or brushing your teeth. The disease has two forms, however, like all inflammatory processes - chronic and acute.

  • The acute stage - the disease is gradually exacerbated, causing puffiness, the appearance of pus and many other unpleasant symptoms.
  • The chronic stage - has an intermittent nature, for a time it becomes aggravated, then again passes.

Pay attention, if the inflammation is not treated, then from the acute form, it will go to the chronic. But the complications, both from the first and second forms of pericoronitis, will be very serious. Lack of proper treatment can cause ulcerative stomatitis, purulent lymphadenitis, abscesses and phlegmon, inflammation of bone tissue.

ICD-10 code

Pericoronite is found in the international classification of diseases. International classification of diseases μb is a system of categories and categories, in which pathological conditions are collected, corresponding to certain, pre-established criteria. Mkb displays a variety of diseases that are separated by a certain symptomatology for maximum convenience when used for epidemiological purposes or for evaluating health care.

Bacteria that are present in the microflora of the oral cavity cause pericoronitis. Due to certain conditions, bacteria begin to multiply actively in the gingival pocket, forming a capsule over the erupting tooth. Treatment involves surgical dissection of the neoplasm, administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Causes of pericoronitis

The main causes of pericoronitis are teething. Almost 80% of the disease occurs with the appearance of wisdom teeth (especially the lower ones). They bring a lot of inconveniences and painful sensations. Wisdom teeth grow last, and their growth is often deformed. This entails damage to adjacent teeth and the appearance of pericoronitis. Wisdom teeth can grow like all normal teeth, or grow to half and stop, and in extreme cases - grow in the horizontal direction, damaging adjacent teeth and mucous tissues.

That is, growth and teething is the main cause of the disease. Note that pericoronite can be considered a physiological problem. It arises from the thick walls of the gingival hood, the thickened gingival walls, the lowered body factors responsible for growth.

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Symptoms of pericoronitis

Symptoms of pericoronitis can be recognized only by the dentist. As a rule, patients seek medical help only when pericoronitis takes an acute form, that is, causes swelling, fever, general ailments, pain in eating or swallowing. We suggest that you consider the main symptoms of pericoronitis:

  • Purulent smell and taste in the mouth (from the germinating tooth).
  • Swelling of the gums, and in especially severe cases - swelling of the cheeks.
  • Mobility of the tooth, pain during eating and with pressure on the tooth.
  • Painful sensations when trying to open or close the mouth (occurs with severe forms of the disease).
  • High fever, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes around the neck.

Please note that regular check-ups at the dentist will help prevent the appearance of pericoronitis. The doctor can assess the condition of the wisdom teeth and their hoods by visual inspection or X-ray. In addition, thanks to the examination, the dentist can prevent the incorrect, deformed growth of wisdom teeth, remove them in time and minimize the chances of pericoronitis and inflammatory processes.

Acute pericoronitis

Acute pericoronitis is an inflammation that occurs when the wisdom teeth are erupted. Most pathological process appears in the area of the third molar. The appearance of an acute form of the disease is provoked by such factors as: mucous membrane injuries, dental diseases, lack of proper oral hygiene and physiological features of the body (thick gingival walls).

The disease manifests itself in the form of aching pain accompanying teething. The pain lasts for a week and without acute medical attention becomes acute. It is difficult for a patient to chew food, painfully swallow and even open his mouth. Some patients have an increase in lymph nodes, fever and general malaises. Acute pericoronitis can take a chronic form and cause a series of exacerbations. Appoint an effective treatment and ease the pain can only the dentist. Therefore, when the first symptoms of acute pericoronitis appear, do not delay with a trip to dentistry.

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Chronic pericoronitis

Chronic pericoronitis occurs if the acute form of the disease has not been given proper medical treatment. The clinic of the disease is rather sparse, it appears when the lower wisdom teeth erupt, which have an incorrect position. Chronic pericoronitis, unlike acute does not cause such painful symptoms. But the most common symptom that accompanies this disease is a pronounced lymphadenitis. From the gingival hood oozes a purulent serous fluid. Despite the fact that the whole process is practically asymptomatic, in the presence of pathogenic factors it can turn into a dangerous inflammation.

To prevent the development of a chronic form of the disease will help timely effective treatment of the acute form of the disease. Contact your dentist and the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment that will relieve you and your teeth from chronic pericoronitis.

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Diagnosis of pericoronitis

Diagnosis of pericoronitis is performed by a dentist. The doctor studies the clinical manifestations of the disease, the symptoms and complaints of the patient, conducts a visual examination. In some cases, the dentist appoints an X-ray study. It

Allows you to see how the tooth grows and whether it carries a threat to neighboring teeth and gums.

After diagnosis, the dentist can prescribe a treatment. The treatment of pericoronitis is aimed at eliminating the factors causing the disease and preventing the transition of the disease into a chronic form. The treatment depends on the diagnosis of the disease and the general condition of the patient.

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Who to contact?

Treatment of pericoronitis

Treatment of pericoronitis is prescribed by the dentist and depends on the overall picture of the disease, that is, its course, symptoms and the patient's condition. There are several types of treatment, let's consider them.

  • Drug therapy - the patient is prescribed rinses and medications that will relieve inflammation and prevent the suppuration of the gingival hood. As a rule, this type of treatment is prescribed after surgical intervention.
  • Laser therapy is a modern method of treating a disease. The laser, providing an anti-inflammatory effect, removes puffiness, stimulates oxygen supply and metabolism of gum tissues, due to deep penetration under the skin. This type of treatment lasts 10-15 days and involves one laser procedure every day.
  • Surgical intervention is the traditional method of treating pericoronitis. The dentist cuts the gingiva's hood over the germinating tooth. After such treatment, the patient is prescribed rinses and a series of anti-inflammatory drugs that will accelerate the healing process.

If the treatment of pericoronitis was inferior and not qualitative, and the process did not stop, then pericoronite would take a chronic form. In this case, the inflammation will appear and disappear. From under the tightened gingival hood will begin to ooze a purulent liquid, causing an unpleasant aftertaste and a smell in the mouth.

Treatment of pericoronitis in the home

Treatment of pericoronitis in the home is not recommended and can only take place after a visit to the dentist and his permission. Home treatment is an emergency that acts as an emergency. As a treatment, rinse with herbal tinctures, which have an antibacterial effect. Soda baths and anti-inflammatory drugs are also used.

When pericoronitis is very important to maintain oral hygiene. It is necessary to clean the teeth gently, and on the affected area, instead of using a brush, use a finger or a cotton swab. The gum hood needs to be washed with a warm salt solution, since it has an antibacterial effect. For the convenience of the procedure, take a syringe without a needle and with it, wash the inflamed tooth and gum.

Prevention of pericoronitis

Prevention of pericoronitis should begin with regular visits to the dental office and examination. Only timely diagnosis, regular follow-up, and conducting an X-ray study can identify the disease. If you feel pain when your teeth erupt, because of which the gum has become inflamed, it became painful to eat and lymph nodes increased - these are all signs that you have started acute pericoronitis. You urgently need to visit the dentist, until the inflammation has taken a pathological and chronic character.

Pericoronitis is a very unpleasant dental disease that occurs when teething. The disease has a mass of symptoms that allow it to be diagnosed in time and cured. Remember that maintaining oral hygiene and regular preventive examinations at the dentist is the best way to prevent any diseases, including pericoronitis.

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