When a tooth is unable to fully erupt, it could become a problem for a patient’s oral health. The Bridge Smiles Dental Group of Somerset County frequently treats patients for gum infections, but further steps may need to be taken when an impacted tooth is causing pericoronitis.
A tooth is said to be impacted when its crown does not push fully through the gum line. This can happen to any tooth, but most often befalls the lower wisdom teeth. The word “pericoronitis” describes inflammation surrounding a crown and is specifically used to describe the infections that tend to develop around difficult-to-clean partly erupted teeth. An impacted tooth will be especially prone to infection if it is partly covered by a flap of gum tissue, called an operculum, which food debris and pus can get trapped under.
A patient can take extra precautions to keep an impacted tooth clean, such as swishing warm salt water in their mouths after each brushing. But infections may require the use of oral antibiotics to treat, and if they recur, we may need to consider oral surgery. An operculum can be cut away or removed with a laser. Removing the impacted tooth may also be necessary for orthodontic reasons.
Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.
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