Oral Pathology – PERICORONITIS
Read the complete lesson in an organized slide-by-slide format. This topic contains 11 learning sections from the source presentation.
LESSON CONTENTS — 11 SECTIONS
Definition
Pericoronitis may be defined as an infection involving the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a partially erupted tooth.
Illustration
Etiology
It is usually caused by streptococci and anaerobic bacteria
Foreign body reaction due to food packing (Food impaction) underneath the operculum and trauma from an over-erupted upper wisdom tooth may precipitate the condition.
Illustration 2
Signs and symptoms
Swelling
Pain and tenderness of the operculum
Foul taste
Trismus
Raised local temperature
Regional lymphadenopathy
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made after confirming the presence of the impacted tooth with radiographs, and eliminating apical or periodontal disease in neighboring teeth.
Treatment
Treatment is in two stages, directed first to the infection and second to the impacted tooth.
In the first approaches to management, this is aimed at resolving the acute phase of the condition particularly trismus so as to better carry out the second approach which is surgical in nature.
Treatment Cont’d
In the first approach, the following treatments are provided
Irrigation under the operculum with warm saline or chlorhexidine mouth wash.
Careful application of a medicament such as trichloroacetic acid beneath the operculum.
Analgesics
Treatment Cont’d
In the second phase of treatment this is usually surgical
Operculectomy (excision of the operculum)
Extraction of the impacted tooth
Additional Study Notes
This section is separated from the source slides to make the lesson easier to revise.
Supplementary learning: For each oral lesion or condition, revise the definition, common site, causes or associated factors, clinical appearance, important differential features, investigations where relevant, complications and general management principles within the learner’s scope.
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