Among dental diseases, pericoronitis is often diagnosed. The treatment of this pathology is simple enough for an experienced specialist. Therefore, it should not be postponed if the gum is inflamed in the area of the unit, which is trying to cut through.
In the article we will talk about what kind of disease it is, how it manifests itself, what are the clinical recommendations, treatment protocols for the diagnosis of pericoronitis. We also learn about possible complications and preventive measures.
What is it?
If inflammation of the soft tissues appears around the teething process, then dentists call this condition pericoronaritis or pericoronitis. In most cases, figure-eight appear problematic. They are also called wisdom teeth.
Other units in the series are difficult to erupt with anomalies in the development of the dentition. Typically, such patients are diagnosed with retention or dystopia. Actually, the wrong position of some units and provokes inflammation of the gums during eruption.
Causes of pericoronitis
According to statistics, in recent years, people have become more likely to see a doctor with a problem such as pericoronitis. Reasons, diagnosis, treatment are interconnected. Therefore, an effective solution to the problem provides an understanding of the triggering factor. After all, the method of treatment will depend on the cause of the development of pathology.
Dentists distinguish the following provoking factors:
- There is not enough space on the jaw to cut through the eights. Due to the fact that wisdom teeth appear in adulthood, when the bones are already formed, they often seem to get stuck in the gums. It can also happen due to the fact that the soft tissue is too thick over the "eight".
- Gum injury in the area of erupting unit (too stiff brush, solid food).
- Pathology of the embryonic development of the dentition. For example, during the laying of units, a too thick pouch is formed around the crown or a compacted mucous membrane.
We examined the provoking factors of pathology. But the direct cause of the development of the disease is bacteria that penetrate the injured gum tissue. The causative agents of the inflammatory process are staphylococci, streptococci. Also, pericoronaritis is provoked by anaerobic bacteria that are present in the oral cavity of each person.
Symptoms of the disease
At the beginning of the inflammatory process in the area of teething, there is slight discomfort or pain. After a few days, the patient's condition worsens. The pain becomes acute, chewing food is difficult. In some cases, it is even impossible to open your mouth, swallow.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes under the lower jaw is observed if pericoronitis of the wisdom tooth develops. Treatment in this case should not be postponed. Otherwise, the condition of the person will be aggravated. There is a general malaise, the body temperature rises, the so-called hood swells on the gum, from which pus will come out in the future.
If the acute stage is replaced by a chronic form, then unpleasant symptoms will subside for a while. But the pus from the inflamed gum will stand out all the time. In this regard, bad breath is added to the list of signs of the disease.
Pericoronitis, the treatment of which has been postponed for a long time, often provokes a shift in the dental unit to the side of the cheek or tongue.
Diagnostics
An experienced dentist will determine the presence of the disease already during a visual examination of the patient. Confirm the diagnosis will help x-ray examination.
Modern equipment allows you to assess the condition of hard tissues, the location of the erupting unit. Only after that, the doctor chooses a method for solving the problem.
Pericoronitis: treatment at home
Consider the recommendations of specialists who will help alleviate the condition of a person in the event that he does not have the opportunity to immediately contact the clinic. But it should be understood that self-treatment can bring a positive effect only at the very beginning of the development of the inflammatory process.
If soft tissues swelled at the site of gum eruption, swelling, redness and discomfort appeared, then doctors recommend rinsing the oral cavity with antiseptic decoctions. In the early days of the development of a disease such as pericoronitis, treatment is carried out using chamomile, sage, calendula. A decoction is prepared from dried flowers or herbs (2 tbsp. Per glass of boiling water) and rinsed every 1-2 hours.
An antiseptic agent made from salt and soda has also worked well. To prepare it, add 1 tsp. To a glass of warm water. each product.
Relieve discomfort or calm the pain with cold compresses. Only all these actions need to be done carefully and carefully to monitor all changes in health. If the inflammatory process does not decrease, and the pain intensifies, then you can not postpone the visit to the dentist.
Pericoronitis: conservative treatment
When a catarrhal form of pathology is determined during the diagnosis, the doctor is limited to conservative treatment. Local therapy involves cleaning the space under the hood and rinsing it with a special syringe.
Then the patient is prescribed rinses with antiseptic solutions already at home. For example, it can be "Chlorhexidine", tincture of calendula, "Miramistin."
You also need to take care of the destruction of pathogenic microflora, which provokes pericoronitis. Treatment of inflammation is carried out using the drug "Metrogil Dent." It consists of two active substances, one of which destroys anaerobic bacteria, and the other is a broad-spectrum antiseptic.
Well, and if necessary, the patient is prescribed an anesthetic. For example, Ibuprofen, Ketanov, Spazmalgon. Although after the inflammatory process is stopped, the pain will pass without pills.
Hood excision
If the gum swells over the erupting unit, but the tooth does not appear above it, the surgeon performs an excision. The procedure is quite simple. The doctor makes a small incision in order to facilitate teething.
If the unit has the correct position, it has enough space in the jaw arch, then the treatment can be considered completed. In order to prevent the development of further inflammation around the tooth, the patient is recommended local therapy. These are all the same rinses with antiseptic solutions and, if necessary, lubrication of the affected area with Metrogil Dent.
Pericoronarotomy
This method of solving the problem is used for the purulent course of the disease. The operation is considered minimally invasive and performed under local anesthesia. Therefore, the patient should not be afraid even if he has developed purulent pericoronitis. Surgical treatment involves excision of the hood, followed by the installation of drainage.
Then, for several days, the patient is recommended to rinse the oral cavity with antiseptic agents. After this, the gum tissue hanging over the tooth unit is amputated with special scissors. This method of treatment provides an outflow of pus accumulated inside and elimination of an environment favorable for the propagation of pathogens.
In modern dental clinics, it is possible to use a laser system to treat a disease such as pericoronitis of the tooth. Treatment with innovative methods provides a guaranteed result. In addition, the operation is performed by the bloodless method, in connection with which the patient recovers faster.
Tooth extraction treatment
The decision to extract a unit is usually due to its incorrect location on the jaw arch. Most often, removal is performed when the pericoron of a wisdom tooth is diagnosed. Treatment and attempt to save it is impractical in the presence of the following factors:
- The tooth does not grow properly, displacing adjacent units or injuring the tissues of the cheek.
- The third molar had completely formed by that time, but it had not erupted or not completely appeared on the surface.
- Caries damaged the G8.
- The tooth is not capable of chewing.
- At the apex of the root of the unit, a neoplasm was diagnosed (granuloma, cyst).
- If relapse occurs (the hood over the tooth has already been excised).
All these circumstances are the reason for the removal of the problematic G8. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, as it can be quite painful.
If pericoronitis of the wisdom tooth on the lower jaw is diagnosed, treatment almost always involves its removal. An exception is only its correct position and the availability of space for its growth. The fact is that the lower last molar is practically not involved in chewing food. As a support for the prosthesis, it is also not suitable. Therefore, doctors have no reason to save it.
Extraction of a wisdom tooth is considered a complex operation. Therefore, it should be carried out only by an experienced surgeon. After opening the hood, a decision is made on further tactics for surgical intervention.
If necessary, the tooth is sawn and removed in parts. Usually this is done so as not to injure the roots of a neighboring unit or facial nerve. To extract a tooth stuck in the jaw bone, it is necessary to use boron to provide access to the problematic “eight”.
At the end, the hole is sutured, and the patient is prescribed local drug treatment. In some cases, it becomes necessary to prescribe a course of antibiotics.
Possible complications
Dentists warn that the lack of proper treatment for pericoronitis leads to the development of negative consequences. Some complications are considered quite serious diseases and can cause great harm to health. Consider the possible consequences:
- Abscesses.
- Phlegmon.
- Osteomyelitis of the jaw.
- Ulcerative stomatitis.
- Purulent lymphadenitis.
- Actinomycosis.
And of course, do not forget that the infectious focus in the oral cavity negatively affects the general condition of the body. Therefore, if you suspect the occurrence of the pathology in question, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Preventative measures
In principle, no one is safe from the fact that any of the teeth at the time of eruption does not provoke inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue. In this case, careful care of the oral cavity is not considered the main prevention.
But operative diagnostics is the only way to detect a problem at the very beginning of its development, to quickly eliminate it, without waiting for complications. Regular visits to the dentist twice a year are recommended as a prophylaxis for all dental diseases. And at the beginning of the growth of the "eights" it is advisable to perform an x-ray examination. The doctor will examine the correct location of the rudiments and predict the likelihood of problematic teething.
And of course, it is important to consult a doctor at the first manifestations of the disease. Self-medication usually gives only the opposite effect.