The condition most often occurs in molars that are partially impacted, or not fully visible.
What are the symptoms of pericoronitis?
The symptoms of pericoronitis vary, based on whether the condition is acute or chronic.
The symptoms of acute pericoronitis include:
1-severe pain near your back teeth
2-swelling of gum tissue
3-pain when swallowing
4- discharge of pus
5-trismus (lockjaw)
Chronic pericoronitis can include the following symptoms:
1-bad breath
2-bad taste in your mouth
3-mild or dull ache lasting for one or two days
What are the causes and risk factors of pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis usually occurs when a molar is partially impacted. Bacteria then accumulates around the soft tissue, causing inflammation.
The following factors can increase your risk of pericoronitis:
1-age between 20 to 29
2-wisdom teeth that haven’t properly erupted
3-poor oral hygiene
4-excess gum tissue
5-fatigue and emotional
What happens if Pericoronitis is left untreated?
As pericoronitis becomes more severe, the infection can spread from the affected area to the cheeks and neck. There may be greater amount of swelling, which in turn leads to difficulty in opening the mouth (a condition called trismus), and associated fever, discharge of pus, pain on swallowing and lymph node swelling. In rare cases, complications of pericoronitis can be life-threatening. This occurs when the infection spreads under the jaw and tongue, leading to neck pain and breathing problems due to obstruction of the airway. This dangerous condition is known as Ludwig’s Angina. There is also the possibility that the infection can spread into the bloodstream, in a condition known as sepsis, which can also be life-threatening.
www.emeralddental.in
EmeraldDental #pericoronitis
