What are the symptoms of pericoronitis of wisdom teeth?

The growth cycle of wisdom teeth is very slow. Some adults may not grow out until they are 25 years old. Wisdom teeth may become inflamed during the growth process, causing people to suffer. This is typical pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. Many people don’t know much about the diseases caused by wisdom teeth. So, what are the symptoms of pericoronitis of wisdom teeth?

Pericoronitis refers to inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the crown of the third molar (also known as wisdom tooth). It often occurs in young people aged 18 to 25 and is one of the common oral diseases. The main symptoms are swelling and pain in the soft tissue around the crown. If the inflammation affects the masticatory muscles, it can cause varying degrees of restricted mouth opening. If it affects the pharyngeal side, swallowing pain will occur, causing difficulties in chewing, eating and swallowing. Patients with severe illness may also have systemic symptoms such as general discomfort, headache, fever, and loss of appetite.

1. Pericoronitis of wisdom teeth often occurs in adolescents aged 18 to 25 years old, more commonly in the mandible, and can be divided into acute and chronic. Clinically, it often presents in the form of acute inflammation.

2. In the early stage of acute inflammation, the patient only feels slight swelling and discomfort in the affected area, and the pain worsens when chewing, swallowing, or opening the mouth. If the disease continues to progress, local spontaneous throbbing pain may occur and radiate to the head and face on the same side. When inflammation invades the masticatory muscles, it can cause varying degrees of mouth opening restriction. Examination shows that the gingival flaps are red, swollen and eroded, with obvious tenderness, and pus may overflow when the gingival pockets are pressed.

3. Symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, and constipation may occur throughout the body to varying degrees. Chronic pericoronitis of wisdom teeth usually has no obvious clinical symptoms, only slight tenderness and discomfort in the affected area. When resistance decreases, acute attacks often occur.

4. Further aggravation of acute pericoronitis may cause infection of adjacent tissues and organs or fascial spaces.