It is also important to note that patient presentation may differ based on whether patients have chronic or acute pericoronitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Swelling

  That allows an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause infection and swelling. [webmd.com]

  More severe symptoms include swelling in that part of the face, swollen lymph nodes, and jaw spasms. [dental.columbia.edu]

  Redness and swelling of your gum tissue. Pus or drainage. Discomfort when swallowing. Lockjaw (trismus). Facial swelling. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck. Chronic pericoronitis symptoms may include: Mild, temporary achiness near your back teeth. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

  Patients initially report localized pain and swelling at the back of the mouth that can change to radiating pain to the surrounding structures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Inflammation

  Minor surgery to remove the operculum: If the pain and inflammation are severe, or if the pericoronitis recurs, it may be necessary to have oral surgery to remove the gum flap or wisdom tooth. [webmd.com]

  Depending on the severity of inflammation, your dentist may recommend cleaning the area, antibiotics, pericoronitis mouthwash, pericoronitis removal or wisdom teeth removal. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

  Differential Diagnosis Pericoronitis is diagnosed clinically with the presence of soft tissue inflammation and infection. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Localized Pain

  Patients initially report localized pain and swelling at the back of the mouth that can change to radiating pain to the surrounding structures. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Severe Pain

  Severe pain around your back teeth. Redness and swelling of your gum tissue. Pus or drainage. Discomfort when swallowing. Lockjaw (trismus). Facial swelling. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

• Poor Oral Hygiene

  Pericoronitis Risk Factors Factors that may raise your risk of pericoronitis include: Being in your 20s An upper respiratory tract infections Emotional stress Poor oral hygiene Pericoronitis Symptoms Symptoms of pericoronitis can be either acute (short-term [webmd.com]

  Have poor oral hygiene. Is pericoronitis contagious? Pericoronitis itself isn’t contagious. But the bacteria that cause it can spread to others through saliva. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

• Dental Caries

  Foreign body impaction Pyogenic granuloma Peripheral ossifying fibroma Dental caries Periodontitis Periapical abscess or granuloma Prognosis The amount of dental plaque is positively associated with pericoronitis.[8] If the third molars have adequate [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Management and Treatment How do you treat pericoronitis? Pericoronitis treatment varies for each person. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Treatment / Management Treatment for pericoronitis can differ among dental professionals depending on their experience, clinical skills, and clinical settings. There are a variety of treatment options to manage pericoronitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Pericoronitis Treatment Pericoronitis is treated by your general dentist or one of these specialists: Pedodontist or pediatric dentist Endodontist Periodontist Prosthodontist Oral surgeon Treatments for pericoronitis include: Oral hygiene/oral irrigators [webmd.com]

If upon radiographic examination, a patient’s third molar has a poor prognosis to erupt into functional occlusion, which increases the likelihood of developing pericoronitis, it is fair to consider prophylactic third molar extractions. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Outlook / Prognosis What can I expect if I have pericoronitis? If you have pericoronitis, your dentist will talk with you about your treatment options. They may monitor your condition if your symptoms are mild. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

This activity goes over the presentation, etiology, prevention, and treatment options of pericoronitis used by the interprofessional team. Objectives: Identify the signs and symptoms of pericoronitis. Understand the etiology of pericoronitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Pericoronitis: A clinical and epidemiological study in greek military recruits. J Clin Exp Dent. 2019 Feb;11(2):e133-e137. [PMC free article: PMC6383902] [PubMed: 30805117] 5. Nitzan DW, Tal O, Sela MN, Shteyer A. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Mechanical debridement using periodontal instruments can also help further clean the infected pericoronal pocket.[6] Maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent further buildup is important in treating and preventing pericoronitis.[8] Pain management: Pain [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Prevention How can I prevent pericoronitis? You can’t prevent pericoronitis altogether. Sometimes, it can occur even if you have excellent oral hygiene. But there are ways to reduce your risk: Brush your teeth two to three times a day. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

Your dentist may recommend you extract both your upper and lower wisdom teeth to prevent your upper tooth from biting your gum and causing another infection. [webmd.com]