Pericoronitis is a situation in which there is inflammation, accompanied or not by infection, in a tooth that is partially covered by the gum, resulting in pain, local swelling and, often, bad breath. Although pericoronaritis can happen in any tooth, it is more common to be noticed in the third molars, popularly known as wisdom teeth.
This situation occurs mainly due to the accumulation of rest of food that accumulates in the region and, because it is often difficult to access, brushing the teeth is not enough to remove them. Thus, it favors the proliferation of bacteria, resulting in inflammation and infection.
The treatment for pericoronitis is done as instructed by the dentist, and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics is usually recommended to relieve pain and, when there are no signs of infection, the removal of excess gums or wisdom teeth may be recommended.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for pericoronitis is done according to the dentist's guidance, and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics is usually indicated to reduce swelling and relieve pain, such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, for example. When there are signs of infection, the dentist may recommend the use of antibiotics to fight the infection, such as Amoxicillin, for example.
When the inflammatory and infectious signs disappear, the dentist can choose to remove the wisdom tooth or perform the gingivectomy, which consists of removing the excess gum, facilitating the tooth to exit.
The treatment of pericoronaritis usually lasts a few days, however, if it is not done correctly or teeth cleaning is not done or performed incorrectly, there may be complications, such as serious infections, for example, which can prolong the time of treatment. Find out how oral hygiene should be done.
Home treatment
Home treatment can be done with the aim of relieving symptoms, but they do not replace the dentist's guidance. To relieve swelling and pain, a compress can be made with ice water in the region for about 15 minutes.
In addition, you can rinse with warm water and salt, as they help to combat possible infectious agents and accelerate the healing process, but this should only be done according to the dentist's guidance, otherwise it may aggravate the person's clinical condition.
Pericoronitis symptoms
The symptoms of pericoronaritis appear mainly between the ages of 20 and 30, or earlier, which is the period in which normally the wisdom teeth start to appear and cause discomfort. Thus, pericoronitis can be perceived through the following symptoms:
- Mild or radiating pain to the ears or head; Local swelling; Bad breath; Bleeding gums; Difficulty chewing or swallowing; Enlarged neck nodes; Malaise; Low fever.
In addition, alveolitis is a sign of pericoronitis, which corresponds to infection and inflammation of the inner part of the bone to which the tooth fits. Understand more about alveolitis.
The diagnosis of pericoronaritis is made by the dentist based on the analysis of the symptoms presented by the person, as well as an evaluation of the gums and imaging tests, in which the position of the teeth in the dental arch is observed, in addition to the location and position of growth of the tooth. wisdom, helping the dentist to define the best form of treatment.
