Mechanical damage to the hood over the wisdom tooth. Reasons for the appearance of a hood on a wisdom tooth

It’s rare that a wisdom tooth appears and grows without problems. Many of us state that the third molar comes out for a long time, it is very painful and often with complications.

One of the most diagnosed complications is pericoronitis. This is an inflammation that develops in the soft tissues that cover the figure eight (otherwise under the hood).

General overview

The hood over the wisdom tooth is a formation formed from the gum mucous tissues located above the erupting unit. They form a dense, but not hermetic cover.

Under the formation, small food fragments easily fall, which cannot be removed from there with a toothbrush on their own. It creates a favorable environment for microorganisms, the activity of which subsequently leads to an infectious process in this area.

Usually, pericoronitis develops in the lower jaw, and mainly in adolescents and young people during the eruption of their third molar, and in isolated cases in older people.

The first and main reason for the development of the process– proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the tissues of the problematic fragment. The second factor is severe mechanical trauma to the gums.

When a wisdom tooth appears, the gum tissue becomes uneven and loose, making it easy to damage (this can happen even when chewing hard foods).

Complications and symptoms

During the first few days, the inflammation that has begun is asymptomatic. Over time, the following signs of the disease appear:

swelling of the gums;
unpleasant putrid odor;
soreness in the area of the erupting figure eight.

If treatment was not started at the initial stage of the disease, the list of symptoms expands and their manifestations intensify:

swelling increases, and now it spreads to the face;
pain develops when trying to open the mouth, when chewing, swallowing food and talking;
jaw mobility worsens;
the temperature rises sharply to high values;
submandibular lymph nodes become inflamed;
purulent exudate appears, which begins to flow out even with slight pressure on the hood.

Against the background of these symptoms, malaise, general weakness and headache are observed.

Important! You should not wait until more severe symptoms of the disease begin to appear. This is very dangerous for your overall health. It is necessary to seek medical help at the first signs of pericoronitis.

Indications for excision

There are often situations when the inflammation of the hood is so severe that lightly touching it or moving the jaw causes unbearable pain.

Considering the consequences and extent of the spread of the disease, specialists perform excision of the hood if the following are observed:

unpleasant putrid odor, developed due to the formation of a purulent mass under the tissue cover;
acute gingivitis, in which constant severe pain prevents you from leading your usual lifestyle, eating, and can lead to migraines and lumbago in the ears;
swelling that spreads to the cheeks and gums when a person cannot open his mouth normally;
pain when chewing and swallowing food;
enlarged lymph nodes due to the penetration of pyogenic microbes into them;
heat against the background of a general painful condition.

Removing the hood in dentistry is a classic method of treating pericoronitis, since drug therapy in most cases stops the disease only temporarily or does not give any result.

Antibiotics only stop inflammation for a while, and as soon as their use ends, it continues. This is explained by the fact that food debris constantly gets under the tissue cover, and there is a continuous development of pathogenic microflora there.

Antibiotics stop their development only for the period of treatment, but the problem recurs as soon as the drugs stop working.

Important! If the operation is not performed in a timely manner, then subsequently you will have to treat not only the inflammation of the gum tissue, but also the complications that the disease led to.

Preparation

Since the procedure for removing a hood over a wisdom tooth is a surgical procedure, the patient undergoes standard preparation before the procedure.

It consists of several mandatory examinations that allow you to assess a person’s general condition, develop a plan for future treatment, and select the type of anesthesia.

Preparation includes a number of activities.

History taking

An analysis of general medical information about the pathologies a person has at the time of his visit to the doctor is carried out, and the causative factor in the manifestation of inflammation of the gum tissue is determined.

Complete examination of the patient

It is carried out to prevent the development of unforeseen complications both during the operation and after its completion.

The patient is asked to undergo tests standard for all surgical interventions:

general urine analysis;
clinical and general blood tests;
examination for the presence of viral forms of hepatitis;
analysis for syphilis and HIV infection.

At this stage, the body’s response to drugs is also determined., which are supposed to be used during the operation. If an allergy to at least one of them is detected, it is replaced with another, non-allergenic one.

Examination of the dentofacial apparatus

Computed tomography and radiography are prescribed. Both examinations provide a projection of the inflamed area in three planes.

Using the image, it is convenient for a specialist to examine and study the condition of the jawbone, the correct growth of the third molar, the number of roots and the features of their structure.

The presence of images helps the doctor decide on further actions, accurately calculate the time, sequence and volume of the upcoming operation, and prepare the necessary tools.

If it is clear that the third molar is growing correctly, a decision is always made to preserve it, and then only the inflamed tissue above it is removed.

Oral preparation

If the inflammation is acute, specialists always decide to stop this process. To do this, the patient is prescribed rinsing the mouth with antiseptic solutions and applying compresses with a disinfectant composition.

At the same time, therapeutic measures are carried out to improve the condition of the mouth and prevent the development of postoperative complications, i.e. performed:

professional dental cleaning;
anti-inflammatory therapy;
treatment of caries and other dental diseases.

For the entire period while the preparatory stage for excision is in progress, The patient is prescribed painkillers or dental drops that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Only after all the above measures have been completed, the date of the operation is set.

Course of action

Removing the tissue over the third molar is a simple procedure performed on an outpatient basis. The operation takes place in the following sequence:

Introduction of anesthetic. If there is no allergy, local anesthesia is given.
In special cases, when we mean individual intolerance to a certain group of drugs and pregnancy, manipulation can be carried out without anesthesia.

After administration of the anesthetic drug (after 10-15 minutes), sensitivity is lost and excision can begin.
Removing the hood. The specialist outlines the site for removal, and using a scalpel (laser), cuts out the fragment so that the crown part of the tooth is completely open.
Treatment with an antiseptic with the addition of hemostatic drugs. The doctor thoroughly washes the wound area, removing pus, food debris, and blood.
Applying a compress with antiseptic agents (ointments). But the application is carried out only after the bleeding has stopped.

Upon completion of the operation, the doctor sets a date for a return visit, and, based on the severity of the condition, prescribes medications that the patient must take throughout the recovery period.

Important! Antibiotics are prescribed by the dentist according to the patient’s individual indications.

Watch the video to see how the laser excision procedure is performed.

Recovery period

Despite the fact that excision of the hood is considered a simple operation, it takes some time for the patient to recover and heal the wound area.

How long the pain and discomfort will continue and how long the tissue will heal depends on the individual characteristics of the human body and the strictness of following medical recommendations.

Throughout this period, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

For the first few hours after surgery, you should not eat or drink anything.
All food taken in the future should be at room temperature and soft. Hard and tough foods should be excluded.
During the first days, try not to chew on the operated side.
Gently brush your teeth, trying to avoid the wound area, and do not rinse your mouth vigorously.
Avoid heavy physical activity, visiting bathhouses, saunas.

As a rule, the following are prescribed for the entire postoperative period:

Taking analgesics. To relieve pain, Ketanov, Ibuprofen or Ketorol tablets are usually prescribed (no more than 4 tablets per day).
Rinse with antiseptics Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furacilin, oral baths prepared on the basis of infusions of medicinal herbs (usually chamomile, sage or calendula), or compresses with Cholisal gel.
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (antibiotics). They are prescribed in extreme cases when the body cannot cope with the consequences of inflammation on its own.

Important! Usually, with strict adherence to all medical instructions, recovery takes about 7-10 days.

The need for figure eight extraction

In some cases, excision of the hood above the figure eight may not be enough. This manipulation will not work if:

There is not enough space on the jaw arch so that the third molar can erupt without any complications. A unit is removed if its growth is in the wrong direction.
Units adjacent to the wisdom tooth are missing. Then there is no sense in keeping it, and it is better to remove it before it begins to cause some difficulties for a person.

It is noted that the hood is formed only over elements that have not yet erupted. Their extraction in dentistry is considered a complex operation, since there is no approach to extracting a tooth with conventional instruments.

The dentist has to cut the problem tooth into pieces with a drill. Only after this can the unit be carefully removed from the hole.

The operation of simultaneous excision of the hood and extraction of the third molar entails some additional difficulties for the doctor and the patient.

The time required for the procedure increases significantly, and there is a risk of accidental damage to the tongue. In the person himself, carrying out two manipulations simultaneously causes panic and stress.

Usually, before such an operation, general anesthesia is given, thanks to which the patient does not notice all the doctor’s actions and tolerates the procedure easily, and the specialist calmly carries out the manipulation, avoiding unpleasant embarrassment.

Important! The procedure lasts about an hour. It is effective and completely safe for the patient, even though general anesthesia is administered.

Price

The cost of an operation to excise the hood consists of the price of anesthesia, additional examinations, the procedure itself, and associated medications.

The estimated average cost is 2-3 thousand rubles. (it all depends on the status of the clinic and its location).

If the hood and third molar are removed simultaneously, the cost increases and reaches 4 thousand rubles, and in some clinics up to 7 thousand rubles.

Therapy at home

For some reasons, people come to the dentist when unbearable pain appears and complications appear. The same thing is observed with pericoronitis.

People try to suppress the first signs of the disease with folk remedies. They really help relieve symptoms for a while, but do not fight the cause of the phenomenon itself.

If you still can’t get an appointment with a doctor, you can alleviate the condition by doing the following:

Rinse your mouth with a solution of soda and salt every 2 hours (1 teaspoon of salt and soda per glass of warm water).
Lubricate the inflamed area with iodine. But here it is important to do everything extremely carefully so as not to burn the mucous membrane.
Rinse your mouth with an infusion of medicinal herbs - chamomile, oak bark, calendula, sage (pour 1 teaspoon of each plant with a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain and use as directed at least 4 times a day).

If the pain intensifies, the temperature rises, or general malaise appears, home therapy should be abandoned and medical help should be sought immediately.

The inflammatory process develops very quickly. Only a doctor can correctly assess the condition and prescribe appropriate treatment. That is why self-medication with medications is also unacceptable. Improper use can lead to worsening of the disease.

Important! You cannot delay visiting a doctor if your wisdom tooth is difficult to erupt, as this can lead to the development of complications that are dangerous to your overall health.

Problems in case of refusal of treatment

Without treatment, it is impossible to stop the rotting of food debris and inflammation. The acute form of the disease quickly becomes chronic, characterized by a sluggish course of suppuration and frequent exacerbations.

Inflammation in this form affects not only the tissues surrounding the third molar, but also neighboring ones, spreading to the bone jaw tissue, chewing and facial muscles, leading to more serious pathologies:

changes in bone structure;
formation of phlegmon and abscess;
jaw osteomyelitis.

The purulent exudate that has accumulated under the hood begins to flow out, causing an inflammatory process in the oral cavity. Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes is observed, and soreness of the submandibular nodes is noted.

If the lymphatic system cannot fight the infection, patients in such cases are diagnosed with lymphadenitis.

Pericoronitis also provokes ulcerative stomatitis, actinomycosis. If the proliferation of microorganisms under the tissue cover is not stopped, they quickly enter the respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems, leading to all kinds of diseases.

If, simultaneously with inflammation of the hood, there are problems with the correct eruption and growth of the figure eight, the following complications may be added to the mentioned complications:

complete or partial destruction of the roots of units adjacent to the third molar;
change in bite;
erosion and suppuration on the cheek;
neuralgic change of the trigeminal nerve;
jaw numbness;
destruction of the jawbone;
face shape distortion.

Important! These consequences require complex and lengthy hospital treatment, and in almost all cases it will not be possible to avoid surgical intervention. Therefore, treatment should begin as early as possible, at the first symptoms of the pathology.

The video presents the dentist's opinion on the procedure for excision of the hood above the figure eight.

Scientists say that in the near future, people's wisdom teeth will stop growing. The forecast is optimistic, but for now we are forced to endure the painful eruption of the lower “eights”. In 60-80% of cases, their crowns become “immured” under the overhanging edge of the gum, injuring it and causing inflammation of the gingival hood. And only by excision of the hood over the wisdom tooth can this problem be solved and pain relieved.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and lasts minutes. There is no way to do without it, because pyogenic bacteria accumulate under the hood, provoking an inflammatory process. Without treatment, the gums become swollen and especially painful, an unpleasant putrid odor appears from the mouth, and it becomes difficult to eat and talk.

Why delete

What is the hood above the figure eight? This is the mucous membrane that partially covers the crown. The hood does not fit tightly, and a space forms between it and the tooth. Harmful bacteria immediately rush to fill it.

Microbes multiply, their waste products cause inflammation of the hood. Over time, purulent processes join it. This pathology is called pericoronitis in dentistry.

Pericoronitis does not heal on its own. To get rid of the source of inflammation, the infected hood is removed. The tooth has an opportunity to erupt.

What will happen if you refuse surgical treatment? Nothing good!

Symptoms - pain when moving the jaw, swelling of the gums and cheeks, increased body temperature and bad breath - intensify. Purulent processes spread to the bone tissue, causing its resorption. In the end it is impossible to open the mouth. In acute advanced cases, the infection enters the blood and provokes sepsis - blood poisoning that threatens human health and life.

Stages of the procedure

Anesthesia. The doctor makes local anesthesia - conduction or infiltration.
The hood is removed with a scalpel or surgical scissors. The crown is freed from the overhanging gums.
Antiseptic treatment. The wound is thoroughly washed with Chlorhexidine or another antiseptic. Relieving pain and stopping bleeding. The doctor applies Alvogel to the surgical site and installs an iodoform turunda.

Some time after surgery, patients are re-examined by the dentist to assess the speed of wound healing.

Complications and care after surgery

Care

rinse your mouth with cool antiseptics: potassium permanganate solution, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Stomatidine or Rivanol;
apply cold to the operated area;
take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs: Nimesil, Nurofen, Sedalgin, Solpadein, Tempalgin, Ketanov, Baralgin.

In case of purulent processes, antimicrobial therapy is additionally prescribed and antibiotics are prescribed - Metronidazole in combination with Clindomycin, Lincomycin, or medications based on Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxain or Ofloxacin.

Warm compresses and rinses are categorically unacceptable, because in warmth bacteria multiply and inflammation worsens!

It is important to maintain oral hygiene and use a brush with toothpaste every time after eating. The area of operation must be carefully bypassed. If the pain is too severe, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with toothpaste diluted in water.

Possible complications

With correctly performed excision and high-quality postoperative care, there are no complications. However, if bacteria enter the wound, inflammation continues to progress. A hood again forms over the erupting crown, and it is recommended to remove the “eight”.

How long does it take to heal?

Normally, within 3-4 days after surgery, the wound begins to heal and after a week and a half the gums heal. If it doesn't, see your doctor.

Service cost

The procedure is relatively inexpensive. On average, the excision of the hood costs 1800 rubles.

If you are worried about wisdom teeth, we also suggest reading about an alternative way to solve the problem - complex tooth extraction.

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear in the adult dentition and are also called third molars or “eights.” During evolutionary development, they have lost their main functions and practically do not participate in the process of chewing food and are considered vestigial organs.

It would seem that this property should characterize these teeth as the least troublesome, but in practice it turns out that, on the contrary, they are the most problematic teeth in the mouth. What to do if the gum becomes inflamed near the wisdom tooth?

A typical situation that almost every patient has encountered is inflammation of the gums surrounding the wisdom tooth. The process is accompanied by noticeable pain and discomfort, so everyone, without exception, is interested in what to do in this case in order to quickly eliminate the swelling and improve the condition.

The nature of wisdom teeth is, in fact, unique - they are not preceded by milk teeth, they take a long time to form, therefore they erupt later than others, and have a specific root structure.

Each person has the rudiments of future eights on each jaw, but this does not mean that they will all necessarily grow, because very often the eights remain impacted or are only partially shown.

In any case, the appearance is not instantaneous, but takes a decent period of time, causing inconvenience to a person. The combination of these features becomes the main reason for the development of complications of third molars.

Below we will discuss the main situations in which gum inflammation occurs around the wisdom tooth.

Difficult eruption

Complications during germination are due to the following main factors:

the presence of formed thickened bone tissue;
a sufficiently large size of the molars injures soft tissues;
there is not enough space for free growth;
dystopic position – incorrect direction (at an angle, horizontally).

Dystopic teeth provoke not only inflammation of the wisdom tooth, but also have a negative effect on neighboring molars, damaging the enamel or roots, very often injuring the inner surface of the cheek, and deforming the bite.

Pericoronitis

If the germination of figure eights takes too long, then the soft tissues begin to partially recede, forming a kind of gum hood over the tooth, which prevents eruption. The space under the gingival hood becomes an excellent place for the accumulation of food debris, and, accordingly, the proliferation of pathogenic flora.

In dentistry, this phenomenon is called pericoronitis and it can have an acute, catarrhal, purulent or chronic course. The condition is associated with significant pain, against which the gums around the wisdom tooth become inflamed, and in advanced cases, the cheek may swell and pus may appear. Pericoronitis should be treated by a dentist when primary symptoms occur, otherwise the disease will lead to phlegmon, periostitis, and abscess.

At the initial stage, you can get by with drug treatment, but often the doctor is forced to resort to dissection or complete excision of the inflamed gum tissue.

Carious lesions, infection, inflammation

Erupted wisdom teeth can often become inflamed due to inaccessibility, which prevents proper hygiene. Swelling and pain in the gums near the third molar are due to the following dental conditions:

the presence of carious lesions - this also applies to impacted lesions, since they can be destroyed, even located deep in the tissues;
development of pulpitis, periodontitis - the occurrence of pathologies is preceded by advanced caries, periodontal cyst;
if an infection occurs inside the dental tissue, then the development of a purulent-inflammatory process and, as a consequence, a fistula, abscess, and gumboil will naturally occur. The entire cheek may become swollen.

Having learned about the main reasons that cause inflammation of the gums around the third molars, the conclusion suggests itself - in order to know how to properly treat a tooth and how to treat it, you should definitely be examined by a dentist.

Associated symptoms

Symptoms of wisdom tooth inflammation cannot be confused with anything else. The appearance of pain and swelling are the primary signals of injury or infection in the tooth. These sensations should be remembered in order to accurately describe to a specialist the nature and intensity of inflammation.

Based on the severity of the ongoing pathological processes, one can give a preliminary assessment of the condition and understand how advanced the disease is.

Larisa Kopylova
Dentist-therapist
The presence of slight swelling and mild inflammation at the causative site indicates a normal reaction of the body when the gums near the wisdom tooth are damaged. Against this background, there are pain sensations, but they are insignificant or moderate.
When the pain intensifies, is prolonged, and the swelling increases, then there is reason to suspect the course of a purulent-inflammatory process in the area of the tooth root - it may be a cyst. The accumulated pus will look for a way out and soon a formed ball (sac) will appear on the gum.
X-ray of an abnormally growing wisdom tooth.
A set of symptoms of inflammation characteristic of problematic growth and development of wisdom teeth:
the presence of a slight aching pain - appears when the gingival tissue is gradually dissected by the sharp tip of the tooth;
severe pain resembling spasms indicate inflammation;
The gums near the wisdom tooth become hot, which indicates the progression of the inflammatory process. This symptom occurs against the background of pericoronitis, abscess, hematoma;
when inflammation and swelling spread to the cheek, and swallowing becomes difficult, this signals a severe abscess, which can result in phlegmonous lesions;
the appearance of a foul odor from the oral cavity in tandem with pain and inflammation of the wisdom tooth indicates alveolitis;
a cyst or granuloma manifests itself as a formed ball of pus on the gum.

If you ignore the first signs at the initial stages, then as the pathology progresses, the pain syndrome spreads to the ears, temples, and neck.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist-therapist
The cheek may become noticeably swollen, the tongue may become inflamed, pus will accumulate on the gums, the body temperature will rise - all this is dangerous to life and health, you should try not to let the condition develop into such complications.
Self-help methods
As soon as a wisdom tooth begins to erupt, it is advisable to immediately take preventive measures so as not to experience severe pain. What to do if the gums around the wisdom tooth become inflamed?
It is important to emphasize that home emergency methods do not exclude you from a medical examination, but can only dull the symptoms. To prevent complications from developing, you should definitely see a dentist. An important condition is to avoid any heating of the wisdom tooth, so as not to provoke a purulent process.
Basic first aid rules that will help soothe inflamed gums and alleviate the condition:
take painkillers according to instructions. You can use Nimesil, Analgin, Tempalgin, Ketanov, Paracetamol;
apply an anti-inflammatory gel or ointment with an analgesic effect to the causative area - Cholisal, Kamistad, Kalgel, Metrogyl Denta;
carry out antiseptic treatment of the mouth - prepare aqueous solutions for rinsing.
Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furacilin are suitable for these purposes.

The listed methods can be used for no more than three days, even if relief has occurred, you should still not postpone a trip to a specialist.
Larisa Kopylova
Dentist-therapist
When the gums near the wisdom tooth are swollen, it is worth visiting a doctor, since swelling often acts as a sign of the eruption of the figure eight.
Qualified treatment
After conducting a visual examination of the oral cavity and examining an x-ray, the doctor will identify the true cause of the inflammatory process and take appropriate actions:
prescription of drug therapy - antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antihistamines, gels and ointments for treating sore gums, antiseptic baths, rinses;
Surgical resolution of the situation is indicated for difficult eruption, pericoronitis, and removal of the problematic figure eight. Depending on the circumstances, the doctor will cut the gum, excise or dissect the gingival hood, remove the wisdom tooth;
when the pain is intense and the swelling of the tissues is severe, the condition is alleviated with the help of novocaine blockade;
Laser treatment, in which infrared radiation is applied to the affected area, has a good positive effect. But this method is considered as an auxiliary technique that consolidates the result.

If after reading the article you still have questions, watch the following video, in which the dentist clearly talks about the problem of inflammation of the gums above the figure eight:
If a visit to the dentist resulted in surgery or removal of a third molar, then for several days you should not bathe in hot water, eat irritating foods, or touch the operated hole with your tongue or other foreign objects.

About 40% of the world's population faces various problems associated with the eruption of wisdom teeth, and the most common pathology encountered in dental practice today is inflammation of the gum area above the erupting molars.

What are wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are “figure eights”, the last teeth in the row, which are the third molars. They usually erupt between the ages of 20 and 30, but may remain impacted or partially erupt, and in rare cases be completely absent, which is considered normal in dentistry. Due to lack of space in the oral cavity, they can erupt incorrectly, displace the dentition, leading to their crowding and the development of an inflammatory process in the soft tissues located above the dental surface.

Inflamed hood over a wisdom tooth

Inflammation of the gums near the wisdom tooth

Inflammation of the gums over an erupting molar is called pericoronitis and is a common dental pathology. The development of the inflammatory process is preceded by mechanical damage to the gum tissue, poor oral hygiene, accumulation of plaque between the gum hood and the dental crown, and a decrease in general and local immunity. The causes of pathology are usually normal oral microflora (staphylococci, streptococci).

Signs and symptoms of pericoronitis

detection of redness and swelling of the gums during a dental examination;
with a pronounced pathological process, swelling of the soft tissues of the cheek is observed;
aching pain that intensifies when eating, brushing teeth, or applying pressure;
the presence of purulent discharge from a tooth from under the hood;
bad breath;
difficulty swallowing food and opening the mouth associated with swelling and pain;
increase in general weakness;
increased body temperature;
possible enlargement of regional (parotid and submandibular) lymph nodes;
the pain radiates to the ear area, to the temple on the affected side;

If symptoms of inflammation of the gums above a growing wisdom tooth occur, you must visit a dental clinic and consult a specialist to determine treatment tactics.

Hood over wisdom tooth

A hood is an area of soft gum tissue that hangs over the dental crown of a partially erupted tooth. It is formed as a result of its growth in the wrong direction and the eruption of only one part of it. The hood has a tendency to fester due to the accumulation of plaque, microorganisms and food particles underneath and damage to the gingival structures by the growing tooth.

The hood has a tendency to fester

How to relieve inflammation

Use of local antiseptics

To prevent the development of complications and relieve symptoms of the inflammatory process, it is necessary to rinse the mouth with antiseptic solutions. This therapy will reduce the bacterial load, promote mechanical washing out of purulent secretions and food particles from damaged tissues, and prevent infection of adjacent structures of the oral cavity.

Rinsing is carried out 5-6 times a day after meals.
Within half an hour after the procedure, in order to develop the proper therapeutic effect, you must stop drinking, eating, and smoking.
The time allotted for one rinsing procedure should be from 2 to 5 minutes.
Treatment with local antiseptics is carried out until the inflammatory process disappears completely and averages 5-7 days.
Rinsing must be carried out in a gentle manner, avoiding excessive mechanical impact of the liquid and washed-off particles on the inflamed mucous membranes.

Applied solutions:

Miramistin;
Chlorhexidine;
Furacilin;

Furacilin

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Thanks to the use of drugs from the NSAID group, two therapeutic effects are achieved at once: a decrease in the symptoms of inflammation and a decrease in the severity of pain. The tablets must be used according to the instructions, but the duration of treatment should not exceed 5-7 days due to the risk of complications from the gastrointestinal tract (NSAID-associated gastropathy).

ibuprofen;
Baralgin;
Ketorolac;
Diclofenac;

Antibiotic therapy

It is used against the background of the use of local antiseptics in severe cases of the disease and the development of complications (abscesses, phlegmon, osteomyelitis). For treatment, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone) are used in standard therapeutic dosages.

Surgical removal of the hood

It consists of excision of a section of soft tissue overhanging the tooth surface. Often the procedure is combined with the simultaneous removal of a wisdom tooth.

Indications for surgical excision of part of the gum

often recurrent pericoronaritis;
acute swelling and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis);
severe difficulty speaking, eating and opening the mouth due to swelling of adjacent tissues;
a significant increase in body temperature;
severe course of the disease;
ineffectiveness of drug therapy;
involvement of lymph nodes in inflammation;
development of complications (abscess, phlegmon, osteomyelitis);

Excision of gum above wisdom tooth

Operation stages

Sanitation of the oral cavity and treatment with antiseptic solutions.
Local anesthesia with fast-acting painkillers (lidocaine) by puncturing the surgical area. Pain relief using the application method is also possible.
Determining the incision line and excision of the area of soft gum tissue overhanging the dental crown using a scalpel, surgical scissors or laser, cleaning the enamel surface from purulent plaque.
Repeated treatment of the wound with dental antiseptics.
Procedures to stop bleeding (application of sterile cotton-gauze swabs, hemostatic sponge, suturing the mucous membrane if necessary).
Applying turunda with 5% iodoform or Alvogel to the intervention area.
Explaining the need and methods of oral care, scheduling a repeat dental examination in a few days.
The procedure is painless, well tolerated by patients and takes an average of 10 minutes.

Gum healing time after removal of the hood

With proper care of the oral cavity in the postoperative period and compliance with all recommendations of the dentist, the gums will heal in 5-7 days. During the first 2-3 days, the patient may experience pain in damaged tissues, but these sensations are significantly reduced, swelling and redness of the gums subsides, and overall well-being improves.

If the wisdom tooth continues to grow, the gum hood may re-form. In this case, the dentist decides to remove the incorrectly erupting molar.

Treatment of gums after surgery

Maintain a gentle diet in the first few days: avoid hot, spicy, heavily salted foods.
Sufficient oral hygiene (brushing teeth, using mouthwash, irrigator).
Elimination of gum trauma during cleaning;
The use of local antiseptics to prevent wound infection and accelerate healing processes. It is carried out within 3-5 days after surgical manipulation. Mouth rinses are carried out after meals 3-5 times a day in a gentle manner. Such drugs as Miramistin, Furacilin, Chlorhexidine are suitable as a medicinal solution; a decoction of chamomile and sage has a good disinfecting effect. It is allowed to use antiseptics in the form of gels and ointments: Kamistad, Kalgel. Medicines must be applied to the gums 3-4 times a day. Gel forms of antiseptics, in addition to bactericidal, also have an analgesic effect.
Short course of maintenance antibiotic therapy. To prevent re-infection, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in standard doses (Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav), the duration of treatment is 2-3 days.
Painkillers if necessary: tablet forms of the NSAID group (Analgin, Ketorolac), gels for topical application (Kalgel, Mundizal).
General strengthening treatment: taking multivitamins (Vitrum, Centrum, Aevit).

Pericoronitis is a serious dental pathology, which, if adequate treatment is not started on time, can lead to complications, but at the same time does not present any difficulties in the early stages of development. If symptoms of the disease occur, you should not self-medicate, but seek help from a specialist.

What does it mean when they say that the hood on the wisdom tooth is inflamed? Let's figure it out.

Wisdom teeth are popularly called chewing teeth (large molars) located on the edge. They appear, as a rule, at the age of 16-36 years. A person may have four wisdom teeth in total, but dental practice is faced with situations where only 1 or 2 outer molars erupt. At the same time, the rest continue to grow under the gum, being under a strong slope or in a supine position. In some cases, the rudiments of eights in patients are completely absent. When wisdom teeth do not emerge before age 35, a person should undergo an X-ray examination to rule out possible abnormalities.

Eruption is always a painful process, which is accompanied by inflammation of the hood of the wisdom tooth. This is due to the complex interweaving of the root system. With severe inflammation, accompanied by accumulation of exudative fluid, hyperemia, abscesses extending into the deep layers of soft tissue, the patient is diagnosed with pericoronitis. This pathological condition is typical for the process of eruption of figure eights, but this does not mean that therapy for such a condition is not required. An advanced form of pericoronitis can develop into inflammation of the deep layers of the mucosa, which has a destructive form.

Possible causes of pericoronitis development

Pericoronitis is a very painful process, so it is very important to determine the causes that cause severe inflammation during the eruption of the trailing teeth. When an x-ray shows an anatomically incorrect position of a tooth or the presence of intertwined roots, the doctor refers the patient to a consultation with a dental surgeon, who will determine the need for gum excision and subsequent extraction of the tooth before it begins to erupt.

The appearance of extreme molars may be accompanied by the development of complications associated with other reasons. Knowledge of the factors contributing to the occurrence of inflammation of the wisdom tooth hood will allow for timely prevention of this pathology.

thickening of the gums

In about a tenth of all patients, the tissues located at the site of wisdom tooth growth have thickened walls, which prevents tooth eruption. In this case, a person experiences severe pain, often accompanied by a rise in temperature, headache, and deterioration in general well-being. Some patients with thickened gum walls experience decreased hearing and pain in the ears and eye sockets. If tooth eruption does not occur for a long time, the lymph nodes located under the jaw begin to become inflamed.

For what other reasons does the hood on a wisdom tooth become inflamed?

Thick plaque of bacterial origin on the gums

If hygiene standards and oral care are neglected, the likelihood of a patient developing pericoronitis increases several times. When a tooth erupts, the gums lift and then rupture. Microbes and bacteria located on it are able to penetrate damaged areas and provoke severe inflammation.

A photo of a wisdom tooth hood is presented.

This form of pericoronitis is characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms:

The gums in the area where the wisdom tooth is erupting become very swollen and swollen.
Any load on the affected area causes high-intensity pain. Moreover, the pain affects not only the molar area, but also the entire jaw.
The temperature rises to 38.5 degrees Celsius.

In the absence of timely therapeutic measures, the pathological process can transform into a purulent-infectious one, which is dangerous because blood infection can occur.

Types of pericoronitis and symptoms

Symptoms of inflammation of the wisdom tooth hood depend on its shape. Acute pericoronitis is characterized by severe pain and high intensity of the main symptoms, so the diagnosis of an acute course of difficulties usually does not cause. Typical symptoms of acute pericoronitis are:

The appearance of a sharp and unpleasant odor from the oral cavity, which intensifies after eating. However, the use of hygiene products does not eliminate it.
Hyperemia of the mucous membranes develops, the temperature rises locally in the area of eruption.
There is an acute form of pain syndrome, which interferes with eating, talking, opening the mouth.
Pain sensations radiate to the temple area, lower or upper jaw, and ear.
The cervical or submandibular lymph nodes become inflamed.
Body temperature rises.

If at this stage the patient does not seek help from a dentist and tries to cure the disease on his own, the process begins to take on a chronic form.

Chronic pericoronitis

Chronic pericoronitis develops, as a rule, if tooth eruption occurs over a long period of time, as well as in cases where the patient self-medicates the acute form of pericoronitis, relieving pain with analgesics and avoiding a visit to the dentist.

When the hood of a wisdom tooth becomes inflamed, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Unlike acute pericoronitis, chronic pericoronitis is not accompanied by intense pain - the patient can open his mouth almost painlessly, but when eating food the pain intensifies significantly. Lymph nodes with pericoronaritis in chronic form increase slightly, palpation does not cause pain. The exception is cases when the pathology develops into osteomyelitis of the jaw or periostitis.

Symptoms

The chronic process is accompanied by the following symptoms:

Pus is released from under the gingival hood.
The load on adjacent teeth increases, resulting in increased mobility and instability.
Abscesses and abscesses appear at the site of tooth eruption.

In the absence of adequate therapy, chronic pericoronitis contributes to the development of phlegmon - purulent inflammation in an acute form that has no definite boundaries.

In addition, the inflammatory process is classified according to the form of its occurrence:

Pericoronaritis catarrhal. It is the initial stage of development of the inflammatory process; the symptoms of this form of pathology are mild.
Purulent pericoronitis. It is the most dangerous form of pathology. Inflammation in this form of pericoronitis is accompanied by suppuration of the affected tissues.
Ulcerative pericoronitis. A distinctive feature of this form is the presence of an ulcerative-necrotic process in the affected gum.
Pericoronitis is retromolar. With this form of pathology, the purulent focus is hidden, as a result of which the normal outflow of exudate is disrupted. Because of this, pus begins to accumulate in the soft tissues, the inflammatory process penetrates deeper and deeper, affecting the periosteum and provoking the formation of an abscess.

When the hood over the wisdom tooth is inflamed, treatment should be comprehensive.

Treatment of pericoronitis

Dentists consider surgical intervention to be the only adequate method in acute or chronic form. Only 2% of uncomplicated pathology can be treated by using anti-inflammatory ointments, gels and other agents. That is why experts do not recommend wasting time and effort trying to cure the pathology at home.

Taking into account the anatomical location of the tooth and the severity of the pathology, the doctor chooses one of two surgical treatment methods - extraction of the figure eight and its root system or excision of the gum hood over the wisdom tooth. The first technique is used only in extreme cases, since surgical intervention can provoke various complications, and the recovery period takes up to six months. In some cases, the operation to extract the figure eight from the bone alveolus is performed under general anesthesia in a maxillofacial surgical hospital, which significantly increases the load on the heart muscle and other important human organs.

Indications for wisdom tooth extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction is carried out only when there are strict indications:

The patient has a specific anatomical structure of the jaw (for example, the jaw arch is too narrow, and there is no space in the dentition for tooth eruption).
Pathological disorders during the formation of tooth primordia in the embryonic period.
Abnormal location of the figure eight, its roots, abnormal tooth growth.
Lack of effect, recurrence of pathology after the hood on the wisdom tooth was cut off.
Formation of a new gingival hood (quite rare, only in 5% of cases).

Both surgical methods for excision of the wisdom tooth hood require careful preparation and effective pain relief. Upon completion of the surgical intervention, the patient is prescribed a special regimen that involves minimizing the load on the area that was damaged. It is also recommended to use various medications aimed at preventing possible complications.

Drug treatment after surgery

After surgical removal of a wisdom tooth or excision of a gingival hood, a patient must be prescribed drug therapy. One of its components is antibacterial drugs. Most often, antibiotic medications with a wide spectrum of action are used, which are active against most anaerobic and aerobic pathogens. The most effective drugs are:

"Hemomycin." The patient is prescribed a single dose of one tablet per day, the course duration is about 5 days.
"Amoxicillin." One tablet is recommended to be taken three times a day. Therapy takes up to 10 days.
"Zinnat". One tablet is prescribed twice a day; therapy lasts up to 10 days.
"Metronidazole". Take one tablet twice or three times for 10 days.
"Tsiprolet". Take one tablet twice or three times a day for a week.
"Ciprofloxacin." Use one tablet three times a day. Therapy usually takes 10 days.

Inflammation of the wisdom tooth hood

The use of oral medications should be combined with the use of local agents. Quite often, dentists recommend rinsing and mouth baths using antiseptics such as Miramistin, Hexoral, and Chlorhexidine. Sometimes the use of anti-inflammatory gels containing soothing components, antibacterial substances and antiseptics is prescribed. Some of them contain lidocaine, which helps reduce the intensity of pain after removing the figure eight.

If the hood over the wisdom tooth is inflamed, taking into account the indications, the patient may be prescribed the following gel preparations with a local type of effect: Dentinox, Metrogyl Denta, Asepta, Kamistad, Cholisal.

It is important to consider that any medications after surgery can only be used on the recommendation of the dentist, and the combination of local drugs and oral medications is allowed only in some cases. With uncontrolled use of antibacterial drugs, dysbiosis of the oral cavity may develop, which reduces the protective functions of the mucous membranes and increases the risk of complications.

Treatment of pericoronitis with traditional methods

Pericoronitis is one of the few diseases of the oral cavity that cannot be cured by using traditional recipes. Alternative treatment for this disease has very low effectiveness; it is for this reason that dentists recommend immediately contacting a medical institution, without waiting for the development of a purulent form of pericoronitis.

Inflammation of the hood over the wisdom tooth is one of the most dangerous and serious pathologies in dental practice. If untreated, pericoronitis can lead to serious consequences, among which the greatest danger is systemic blood poisoning. When the eruption of eights is accompanied by the appearance of primary signs of an inflammatory process, the patient should immediately contact the dental clinic. Prevention of the disease involves periodic visits to the dentist. This will make it possible to detect existing deviations at the earliest stages, predict the further course of the pathology, take measures to prevent the development of complications, and if necessary, start treatment immediately.

It is important to remember that only timely diagnosis and therapy will help to avoid undesirable consequences in case of inflammation of the wisdom tooth hood.