---
title: "What Is Pericoronitis? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Pericoronitis is swelling and infection of the gum around a tooth that has only partly come in, most often a wisdom tooth."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pericoronitis
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Conditions

# Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis is swelling and infection of the gum around a tooth that has only partly come in, most often a wisdom tooth.

Pericoronitis is inflammation of the gum tissue around your wisdom teeth. It can happen when a tooth has not come in completely yet. It most often affects [wisdom teeth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-teeth-third-molars) that are only partly through the gum, or an [impacted tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-tooth).

Cleveland Clinic lists cleanings, antibiotics and surgery as treatments. Some people only need monitoring, while others need the gum flap or the tooth removed. See your dentist if you have these signs. Facial swelling that spreads toward the eye or neck, or trouble breathing or swallowing, calls for emergency medical care. Call 911 or go to an emergency room. Our office describes removals on its [tooth extraction page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/tooth-extraction).

[Town Center Dental can helpTooth Extraction](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/tooth-extraction)

## Related terms

-   [Wisdom teeth (third molars)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-teeth-third-molars)
-   [Impacted tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-tooth)
-   [Impacted wisdom tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/impacted-wisdom-tooth)
-   [Wisdom tooth removal](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/wisdom-tooth-removal)
-   [Facial swelling from a tooth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/facial-swelling-from-a-tooth)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Pericoronitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24142-pericoronitis)
2.  [Cleveland Clinic: Periapical Abscess: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24896-periapical-abscess)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)