Infections around Crowns

Ardas Family Dental in Parker carefully monitors the progression of our pediatric patients’ teeth. Misalignments can make flossing and brushing difficult, disrupt the bite, and contribute to a low self-image. But there is an additional risk when a tooth is impacted, meaning it is unable to erupt fully. Such a tooth could become the site of pericoronitis—infection around a crown.

Orthodontic work is usually done when children are between the ages of eleven and fourteen. At that age, they have most of their permanent teeth, but their jaws are still malleable. The wisdom teeth often do not erupt until late adolescence, and there is usually not enough room for them to emerge without disrupting other teeth. The lower ones are especially at risk of becoming impacted part-way, resulting in them being partly covered by a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The operculum is a trap for food debris and oral bacteria, which will result in inflammation.

There are some easy ways to combat oral infections. A patient could take antibiotics and swish salt water around in their mouth twice a day. But an operculum is very difficult to clean, and infections will likely reoccur as long as it exists. Wisdom tooth extractions are among our routine services at Ardas Family Dental, and when patients visit us regularly, we’ll be able to identify dangerous situations and take care of them before pericoronitis develops.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.