The Sunday News
Dr Kimberly Nyathi
GOOD day frequent health care column readers, I trust that you had a restful Easter and that not too many Easter eggs were eaten.
Today’s topic is very interesting and could be of use to many. I am sure we all know somebody or have ourselves once encountered the agony of an impacted (a tooth that is not growing in the right direction) wisdom tooth, or even just the discomfort of wisdom teeth erupting (appearing in the mouth). Very often when wisdom teeth erupt, there is some association of inflammation of the gum covering the erupting tooth. This gum and soft tissue is called an operculum and the name of the inflammation of this operculum is pericoronitis.
Pericoronitis is from the Greek peri, “around”, Latin corona “crown” and -itis, “inflammation” also known as operculitis, is inflammation of the gums surrounding a partially erupted tooth.
Causes
Sometimes, there’s not enough room for the erupting wisdom tooth, and so they come in partially or not at all. When only part of the tooth has erupted into the mouth, it creates a flap of gum tissue (operculum) that easily holds food particles and debris and is a good place for bacteria to lodge. It can also occur around a wisdom tooth that has not erupted at all and is still under the gums.
Pericoronitis commonly occurs in people in their 20s, with around 81 percent of those affected being aged between 20 and 29 years old.
-It is often associated with: poor oral hygiene — not brushing your teeth twice a day
-stress
-pregnancy
-upper respiratory tract infection — like common colds and a sore throat.
Symptoms
-Pain: in the area of the erupting tooth
-Swelling in the gum tissue (caused by an accumulation of fluid)
-A “bad taste” in the mouth and bad breath (caused by pus leaking from the gums)
-Difficulty opening the mouth
Dentists often diagnose pericoronitis during a clinical exam. The dentist will look to see if the gums are inflamed, red, swollen, or draining pus and will also look to see if there is a gum flap in the affected area. The dentist might also take an X-ray to look at the alignment of the wisdom teeth and to rule out other possible causes for the pain, such as dental decay.
Treatment
For minor cases of pericoronitis, some home remedies can help treat symptoms.
A warm salt-water rinse can help, as can cleaning the affected area carefully with a toothbrush to remove plaque and food debris.
However, if there is no improvement after five days, then a dentist must be consulted. Once the dentist has diagnosed pericoronitis, they will design a treatment plan according to the specific needs of the individual. The condition can be difficult to treat because if there is a gum flap, then the problem will not go away completely until the tooth fully erupts, or the tooth or until the tissue affected is removed.
If the person has mild symptoms that are only in the area around the tooth, then the dentist may try the following:
-thoroughly cleaning the area
-removing any food debris
-draining any pus
If there is an infection, then the dentist will prescribe antibiotics, and an individual can take other medication to manage the pain and reduce swelling.
A person should consult their dentist before using any medications or mouth rinses.
In many cases, the dentist may recommend removing the tooth, especially if it is a recurring problem. If left untreated complications may develop.
Prevention
Practicing good oral hygiene may help to prevent pericoronitis from occurring.
Steps that people can take to try and reduce the chance of pericoronitis developing include:
-Good oral hygiene: Extra cleaning around the affected tooth to remove food debris and bacteria will help.
-Regular visits to the dentist: Regular check-ups every 6months will help the dentist identify any signs or problems associated with pericoronitis, increasing the chance of treating them early. Remember better teeth mean better health.
Dr Kimberley Eve Nyathi
BDS Ukraine
