What Causes Pericoronitis?

Pericoronitis most commonly develops when a wisdom tooth only partially erupts through the gums.

Contributing factors may include:

• A partially erupted wisdom tooth
• Food becoming trapped beneath the gum tissue
• Difficulty cleaning around the tooth
• Bacterial plaque accumulation
• Lack of space for the tooth to fully erupt
• An impacted tooth

Because the area is difficult to keep clean, bacteria can multiply beneath the gum flap and lead to infection.

Signs and Symptoms

Pericoronitis may cause:

• Pain around the back tooth
• Swollen or red gums
• Tenderness when chewing
• Difficulty opening the mouth fully
• Bad taste or bad breath
• Pus draining from around the tooth
• Swelling of the cheek or jaw
• Pain when swallowing

If the infection spreads, facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing may develop and should be evaluated promptly.

How Is Pericoronitis Diagnosed?

During your examination, Dr. Omeltschenko will evaluate:

• The affected tooth
• The surrounding gum tissue
• Signs of infection
• Digital X-rays
• Whether the tooth has enough room to erupt normally
• Whether the tooth is impacted

This evaluation helps determine whether the problem can be managed conservatively or whether removing the tooth is the best long-term solution.

What Happens If Pericoronitis Is Left Untreated?

Without treatment, the infection may:

• Become increasingly painful
• Recur repeatedly
• Spread into surrounding tissues
• Cause facial swelling
• Make chewing difficult
• Lead to a more serious infection

Prompt treatment helps reduce discomfort and lowers the risk of complications.

Possible Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the severity of the infection and the position of the tooth.

Possible treatment options include:

• Cleaning the Area – Thorough cleaning around the partially erupted tooth may help remove trapped bacteria and debris.

• Antibiotics – If the infection has spread or significant swelling is present, antibiotics may be prescribed to help control the infection. Antibiotics alone do not correct the underlying problem and are often combined with other treatment.

• Warm Saltwater Rinses – Gentle saltwater rinses may help reduce inflammation and keep the area clean while healing.

• Tooth Extraction – If the tooth is unlikely to erupt normally or the infection continues to recur, removing the tooth is often the most predictable long-term solution.

Our goal is to eliminate the infection while recommending treatment that reduces the likelihood of future problems.

Looking Beyond the Infection

Pericoronitis is often a symptom of an underlying problem—most commonly a wisdom tooth that does not have enough room to erupt properly.

At Total Dentistry, we evaluate the position of the tooth, your overall oral health, and the likelihood of future infections before recommending treatment. Rather than simply treating the current infection, we focus on preventing it from happening again.