Odontogenic Infections

Course overview

Pericoronitis is another common cause of odontogenic infection. The primary cause is the accumulation of bacteria and food debris that gets trapped in the space between the overlapping gum of a partially exposed (erupted) mandibular third molar and the crown of the tooth. Most cases are chronic and consist of a mild persistent inflammation of the mandibular third molar area. Pericoronitis can, however, become a serious infection associated with fever, swelling, and an abscess that has the ability to spread if left untreated. On occasions the symptoms can become severe because of the rapid spread of infection, requiring that the patient be hospitalized for intravenous (IV) antibiotics and possibly extraction of the tooth in an operating room under general anesthesia. Because of the close proximity to the pharynx, airway obstruction becomes a strong possibility.