Signs of pericoronitis you may observe upon examination are as follows:
A partially erupted tooth
Red, inflamed tissue around a partially erupted tooth
Pus oozing from under an overlaying tissue flap
A painful reaction when finger pressure is applied
Swelling in the cheek near the affected tooth
Enlarged lymph nodes
Elevated temperature
In the treatment of pericoronitis, you may perform the following emergency procedures:
Follow the emergency treatment guidelines.
Irrigate under the tissue flap with a warm saline solution (figure 6-5).
Gently clean the area with a sonic scaler or hand scaler.
Instruct the patient to rinse with a warm saline solution every 2 hours.
Contact dental officer if patient is febrile or if lymph nodes are palpable. The dental officer will determine the need to prescribe antibiotics.
Figure 6-5. - Irrigating beneath a tissue flap.
This section describes emergency conditions resulting from inflammation of the oral mucosa, postexodontic complications, and trauma to the teeth and their supporting structures.
"Stomatitis" is a general term used to denote inflammation of the oral mucosa. Two types of stomatitis are common in dentistry, they are herpetic gingivostomatitis and aphthous stomatitis. Herpetic gingivostomatitis usually occurs on the masticatory or keratinized tissues, while aphthous stomatitis usually occurs on the lining or nonkeratinized tissue. Both conditions are marked by the formation of small blisters and ulcers on the oral mucosa.
Recurrent labial herpes is caused by a virus that produces the so-called fever blister or cold sore. They are usually found on the lip and can easily be transmitted to others through casual contact.
A patient with recurrent labial herpes may complain of the following symptoms:
A painful swelling
A fever blister, cold sore, or canker sore
Pain when eating or drinking
A fever, headache, or rundown feeling (for herpetic gingivostomatitis ONLY)
Upon examination of a patient with recurrent labial herpes, you may observe the following signs:
Red, swollen areas with blisters or small craters formed in the center Blisters or craters covered with a grayish-white or yellowish membrane
Perform the emergency treatment guidelines and follow instructions given by the dentist. Instruct the patient NOT to smoke, eat acidic or hot foods, or drink alcohol or use products that contain alcohol such as mouthrises that will dry out the mouth.
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