Abstract

During the process of tooth eruption, the soft tissue covering the crown area sometimes becomes infected. The term pericoronitis refers to inflammation of the gingiva in relation to the crown of an incompletely erupted tooth. The space between the crown of the tooth and the overlying gingival (i.e., operculum) is an ideal area for the accumulation of food debris and bacterial growth. The clinical picture is a red, swollen, suppurating lesion that is tender, pains to the ear, throat, oral malodor and trismus. The decision to retain a tooth with this condition is determined by the tooth position, quality of the soft tissues and the amount of space and vestibular depth. Treatment of pericoronitis is non-surgical therapy and combine with surgical therapy when the gingival tissue has not improved although the infection has decreased. Gingivectomy and gingivoplasty are options in cases where there are pseudo-pockets or gingival tissue covering the crown