Your mouth starts hurting, in the lower molar area. It almost feels like something is cutting through your gum. In a way, it is – a wisdom tooth is trying to erupt. It’s not doing it successfully, though, and you are at risk of getting something called pericoronitis. Is this dangerous? It could be.
Read on as expert Florida dentists explain the dangers of pericoronitis
There are several symptoms that a dentist will be on the lookout for when it comes to this condition. Here are a few of them:
The pain is usually from the fact that the wisdom tooth is overcrowded and the tissue around it gets inflamed. The teeth that are affected may not even be visible. This happens during acute cases.
This is another symptom of acute pericoronitis. There can also be a flap of gum tissue that covers the erupting tooth. There may be pus. Your Clearwater dentist may suggest removing the flap or even the tooth.
You may get something called Ludwig’s angina, which means that the infection has spread to your neck and head. Also, it may cause an infection in your bloodstream, called sepsis. Both are medical emergencies and need swift action.
Another sign of acute pericoronitis is lockjaw, which most people usually associate with those who have tetanus.
On the other hand, chronic pericoronitis usually winds up with you having bad breath, a bad taste in your mouth, and you may have an ache that feels dull rather than sharp that can last for a couple of days.
There are things that you can do to manage things if you can’t get to a Clearwater dentist right away. They include:
What happens is that bacteria usually forms around the tissue that surrounds the impacted tooth. Your mouth is too crowded and the inflammation will worsen. There are several facts that can also come into play:
When you see a dentist, whether an emergency one or your regular one, they will look at your mouth. They will check to see if there is a flap and if there are any partially erupted wisdom teeth. If it looks like the wisdom tooth will continue to come out in your mouth normally, then they may tell you to take painkillers like Tylenol or Advil. They will also clean out the tissue to keep bacteria and food particles from causing problems. You might get local anesthesia during this part.
If there is swelling, you might get a prescription for penicillin or erythromycin. That will help get rid of anyone possible infection and keep you healthy until the wisdom tooth erupts on its own.
On the other hand, if it looks like the tooth is not going to come out on its own and may continue to cause problems, the dentist may make the call to extract the tooth to prevent any further problems. You will have to follow their post-extraction guidelines.
To fully answer the question of whether this is a dental emergency, this is something that can go from mild to serious quickly, so it is best to seek dental care as soon as possible. This is not something to sit on for a long time, since you don’t want to have emergency medical care for more than just a wisdom tooth extraction.
Ultimately, even though Ludwig’s angina and sepsis are both very rare, it can happen and pericoronitis is something that a dental professional should look at as soon as possible so as to begin the treatment process.
You should contact professional emergency dentists In Clearwater, FL. The staff at the Dental Emergency Room are ready to handle any situation that comes their way – and they have general dentists on staff too to handle your routine dental needs. Give them a call today to make an appointment – 727-449-2424.
Dental Emergency Room
1935 Drew Street,
Clearwater, Florida 33765
Columbus, OH 43205
Phone: 727-449-2424