Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue in wisdom teeth. Wisdom molars are the third molars that are the deepest and last to grow. Pericoronitis if left untreated can damage the arrangement of teeth and cause bad breath.
This disease infects molars that grow abnormally, implant, or grow sideways. Symptoms of pericoronitis are divided into two based on the condition of the disease, namely acute (arising for a short time and suddenly) or chronic (long or chronic).
Symptoms of Pericoronitis
In acute pericoronitis, symptoms that may appear include:
- Swollen gums
- Sharp pain around the molars
- Difficult and painful when swallowing food
- Discharge of pus from infected gums
- The movement of opening and closing the jaw is limited, and sometimes painful.
While chronic pericoronitis is characterized by dull pain in the teeth that often occurs for 1-2 days, bad breath, and a bad taste around the mouth.
Causes of Pericoronitis
Pericoronitis is initially caused by an imperfect alignment of the teeth. The reason could be because the distance between the teeth is too tight or too tenuous. This condition can make it easy for food debris to slip between the teeth and become difficult to clean. Leftover food that is left on the teeth will form a buildup of plaque and allow bacteria to enter the gum tissue. Bacteria that enter the tissue will infect the gums and cause inflammation.
In addition to these causes, a number of factors can increase the risk of developing pericoronitis. Among them:
- 20-29 years old
- Abnormal growth of wisdom teeth, implanted or tilted
- Dental health that is not well maintained
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Pregnancy.
Pericoronitis Diagnosis
Doctors can suspect a patient has pericoronitis if there are symptoms. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination by looking at the condition of the patient's teeth. To find and confirm the presence of inflammation around the molars, the doctor will perform an X-ray examination of the teeth.
Pericoronitis Treatment
There are several methods of treating pericoronitis, depending on the severity, including medication to relieve pain, surgery to repair inflamed gum tissue or tooth extraction, as well as self-care to prevent the disease from developing.
Drug Dental and gum surgery Independent efforts to support treatment