Diagnosis of Pericoronitis that Surrounds a Wisdom Tooth

A member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Dr. Christopher C. Babcock graduated with an MD and DMD from the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Since 2018, Christopher C. Babcock, MD, has practiced at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants and performs tooth extraction and dental implants.

When wisdom teeth do not fully emerge from the gumline, pericoronitis may occur. Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the oral tissues surrounding a wisdom tooth. Partial eruption of a wisdom tooth may result in soft tissue remaining over the partly erupted wisdom tooth. This tissue is called the operculum. Bacteria inhabit the space underneath the operculum, creating an area for microorganisms to enter the areas surrounding the tooth, and this may lead to inflammation and infection. The telltale signs of pericoronitis include pain and swelling of the operculum.

Dentists will routinely examine the wisdom teeth to verify they are erupting normally in the younger age group. They may use an X-ray image to verify the expected alignment of these teeth as they emerge from the gumline. Any symptom in that oral region, such as swelling or infection, would be noted by the dentist for referral to an oral surgeon like Dr. Babcock for treatment.