Miami Dental

Friday, February 1, 2019

Infections around Crowns

When a tooth is unable to fully push through the gum line, it isn’t just uncomfortable or awkward-looking. It also creates a trap for decay-causing bacteria. We provide thorough cleanings at the Miami Beach dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, but an impacted tooth can result in a kind of infection called pericoronitis (inflammation around a crown) which requires special attention.


The lower wisdom teeth are the ones which most often get trapped while emerging. They usually erupt in late adolescence, after all the other teeth are in place and there isn’t enough room in the jaw for them. The emerging teeth are often partially trapped under a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The space between the operculum and the tooth may be too small to be brushed, but acid and food debris can accumulate there, allowing decay to set in and spread to the surrounding gum tissue.


We can clean an operculum and may recommend that a patient use oral antibiotics and wash their mouth with salt water. But a long-term solution will likely require us to cut away the operculum, remove the tooth, or both. When adolescent patients maintain regular check-ups, we can monitor the progression of their teeth with x-rays and anticipate whether a tooth is likely to be impacted.


Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.


 

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