Pericoronitis

Aka: Pericoronitis

II. Definition

  1. Acute, localized infection around crown of partially erupted tooth
  2. Wisdom teeth (third molars) most often affected

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Plaque and debris accumulate under gum line

IV. Symptoms

  1. Foul taste and halitosis
  2. Localized pain, worse with chewing or swallowing

V. Signs

  1. Edema around flap overlying erupted tooth
  2. Regional Lymphadenopathy of the Head and Neck
  3. Trismus may occur

VI. Management

  1. Localized cases
    1. Mouthwash with warm salty water
    2. Irrigate under flap of mucosa
    3. Chlorhexidine Gluconate 0.12% Rinse (Peridex)
    4. Hexetidine 0.1% Rinse (Oraldene)
  2. Refractory or severe cases
    1. Dental referral as soon as possible
    2. Oral Penicillin
    3. Adequate Analgesics (e.g. NSAIDs or mild Opioid)

VII. References

  1. Douglass (2003) Am Fam Physician 67(3):511-16 [PubMed]
  2. Nguyen (2008) Am Fam Physician 77:797-806 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Pericoronitis (C0031055)

Definition (MSH) Inflammation of the gingiva surrounding the crown of a tooth.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D010497
SnomedCT 22240003
English Pericoronitides, Pericoronitis, Pericoronitis [Disease/Finding], pericoronitis, Operculitis, Pericoronitis (disorder), operculitis
Japanese 歯冠周囲炎, ｼｶﾝｼｭｳｲｴﾝ
Swedish Perikoronit
Czech perikoronitida, Pericoronitis
Finnish Perikoroniitti
Russian PERIKORONIT, ПЕРИКОРОНИТ
Polish Zapalenie dziąsła okołokoronowe, Zapalenie dziąsła wokół korony wyrzynającego się zęba
Hungarian Pericoronitis
Norwegian Perikoronitt
Portuguese Pericoronarite, Pericoronite
Spanish pericoronitis (trastorno), pericoronitis, Pericoronitis
Dutch pericoronitis, Pericoronitis
French Gingivite péri-coronaire, Péricoronarite
German Perikoronitis
Italian Pericoronite
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Tooth Disorders

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