Pericoronitis

Extractions and gum disease are of particular interest to us at Dr. Martin Urban’s Waltham dental practice. Sometimes, extractions need to be done to prevent or combat periodontal disease, particularly in cases described as “pericoronitis.” This term describes infection of gum tissue surrounding a dental crown that is impacted.

Impacted teeth are those that are unable to fully erupt. This is a common risk with wisdom teeth, which are the largest teeth and the last to come in. There is often not enough room for them, leaving them stuck only partially erupted. In some cases, a portion of the tooth is still covered by a flap of gum tissue, which is called an operculum. The space between the operculum and the tooth becomes an ideal hiding place for bacteria, causing gum infections that can easily get out of control.

A partially-erupted tooth will likely prove difficult to clean. A patient can swish warm saltwater in their mouth as an anti-bacterial measure and can take oral antibiotics, but in the long term, oral surgery may be necessary. We may cut away an operculum, but the impacted tooth will probably continue to cause misalignment until it, too, is removed. In younger patients, it may be possible for an orthodontist to use braces to guide an impacted tooth into place after some of the gum tissue covering it has been cut away.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.