Pericoronitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Pericoronitis is a condition that occurs when the gum tissue around your wisdom teeth becomes inflamed, irritated, and, in many cases, infected. It most often occurs when the tooth is partially erupted, and can cause pain, swelling, and bad breath. Infection is common with pericoronitis, and quick treatment is essential to prevent further complications.
What is Pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is a form of gum disease in which the tissue around a partially erupted tooth becomes infected or inflamed. It most often occurs in the third row of molars, which are more commonly referred to as the wisdom teeth.
When wisdom teeth do not grow in correctly, they may partially erupt, meaning that part of the tooth has broken through the gums, while part of it remains covered. A partially impacted wisdom tooth can be incredibly uncomfortable, as your natural chewing motion will irritate and inflame the tissue that covers the biting surface of the tooth.
The flap of tissue covering the tooth, called an operculum, can also trap food, plaque, and other debris between the gums and the tooth. Without proper care, bacteria can gather and grow in the operculum over time, leading to infection.
Pericoronitis Symptoms
Pericoronitis can both be acute, needing immediate medical attention, or chronic, with persistent but mild inflammation. Pain, swelling, fever, jaw stiffness, bad breath, and discharge are all common symptoms, depending on the severity of the condition.
Acute Symptoms
The symptoms of acute pericoronitis can be severe and cause extreme discomfort in the mouth and jaw. They include:
- Intense pain in the gums, tooth, or jaw
- Discomfort throughout the mouth
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling, red, or inflamed gums around the tooth
- Bad breath
- Facial swelling
- Pus coming from the infection site
Acute pericoronitis should be treated by a professional as soon as possible, as the infection can rapidly spread to other areas of the mouth and body, causing additional discomfort.
Chronic Symptoms
With chronic pericoronitis, you will most likely experience some mild discomfort in the gums around the tooth. Occasionally, the tissue may swell, and you may experience bad breath when infection is present.
What is Pericoronitis Caused By?
Pericoronitis is a common condition, and most often impacts individuals in their 20s who still have their wisdom teeth.
Pericoronitis can occur anytime a tooth is partially erupted throughout the mouth. However, it is most commonly caused by impacted wisdom teeth, as wisdom teeth are the most likely to get stuck in the jawbone.
Not all patients with a partially-erupted wisdom tooth will experience pericoronitis, however. Additional risk factors for developing the inflammation and infection associated with pericoronitis include:
- Stress
- Smoking
- Poor oral hygiene
- Pregnancy
- Upper respiratory infection
While poor oral hygiene allows infections to start, the other risk factors in this list reduce your body’s ability to fight it, while also increasing the likelihood of inflammation.
Will Pericoronitis Go Away on its Own?
In some cases, pericoronitis can be temporary. If your wisdom teeth are still growing, allowing them to fully erupt—and taking good care of your teeth in the meantime—may resolve the issue.
More often than not, however, pericoronitis does not resolve itself without intervention from a dentist or oral surgeon.
Mild cases of pericoronitis can often be managed with good hygiene and at-home treatment efforts. Severe cases of acute pericoronitis should be treated immediately to relieve symptoms and prevent the spread of infection. Whether your discomfort is mild or severe, you should consult with your dentist or oral surgeon to determine the best options for both short- and long-term relief.
Pericoronitis Home Treatments
For mild cases of pericoronitis without infection, regularly cleaning food debris from the area and rinsing with warm salt water may be sufficient to keep inflammation and discomfort at bay.
Other at-home methods to ease the discomfort of pericoronitis and keep it from worsening. Common methods for pericoronitis treatment at home include:
- Commit to good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing daily.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash twice daily to reduce the risk of infection.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed for inflammation.
- Use a cold compress to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Dental Treatments
Medical intervention is often necessary to both treat acute cases and to address the long-term concerns of chronic pericoronitis. Dental treatments for pericoronitis include:
- Dental cleaning to flush food particles, bacteria, and other debris from the tooth.
- A course of antibiotics to treat or prevent infection.
- Outpatient surgery to remove the operculum.
- Use of a prescription pericoronitis mouthwash containing the antiseptic chlorhexidine.
In severe cases, or when other issues are present, your dentist or surgeon may recommend complete removal of your wisdom teeth.
What Happens if Pericoronitis is Left Untreated?
Because pericoronitis will not resolve on its own, even mild cases should be monitored and treated. Choosing not to treat chronic pericoronitis increases the risk of developing acute pericoronitis later on, even with careful at-home hygiene.
Dental health is closely tied to your overall health, and pericoronitis offers no exception. Without treatment, acute pericoronitis can quickly spread the infection throughout the mouth and body. In the most severe cases, this spread of disease can be fatal.
Prevention of Pericoronitis
While you may not be able to prevent the partial eruption of a wisdom tooth, you may be able to ward off the inflammation and discomfort of pericoronitis.
Good oral hygiene is the number one way to prevent pericoronitis. Brush your teeth twice a day, taking special care to clean the area around the partially-impacted tooth. Flossing daily will reduce the potential for debris, and a water flosser can help to get under the operculum where your toothbrush may not reach.
Regular dental cleanings and care can also help to keep your teeth clean and ward off any emerging problems. Be sure to discuss any concerns, including mild discomfort around a partially erupted tooth, with your dentist. They can recommend next steps, including when it’s time to talk to an oral surgeon about your wisdom teeth.
When to See an Oral Surgeon
After you have been diagnosed with pericoronitis, any affected teeth must be monitored to make sure they are not impacted or growing in at an angle. If x-rays show that your jaw does not have enough space to fit the new teeth, wisdom tooth extraction will be necessary to treat your pericoronitis and prevent additional issues.
If there is a chance your teeth can grow in with enough room, you may be given the option to wait and see. To avoid causing permanent damage to your smile and serious oral health complications, it’s best to consult with an oral surgeon.
The expert NJ oral surgeons at BOMS is here to help with all of your pericoronitis and wisdom teeth concerns. With four convenient locations, we have been serving Bergen County for more than 70 years. Today, our team includes the only dual-degree oral surgery and medical doctors in Bergen County, New Jersey, bringing expertise from both areas to our clinics and our patients.
From consultation to recovery, our doctors and support team make your comfort and well-being a top priority. Our medical team is always on call to answer questions and respond to emergencies, ensuring that you get the best possible care even after you’ve left the chair. Our oral surgeons accept insurance. Please call one of our NJ offices so we can help you understand your insurance benefits.
We are here to answer any questions you have. Call or text us today!
Personalized, gentle, comprehensive patient care is our number one priority.
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