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Pericoronitis is a painful inflammation of the gum tissue (the so-called operculum) around a partially erupted tooth — most often a wisdom tooth. Bacteria and food debris accumulate beneath the soft tissue and infection develops. Symptoms include severe pain, gum swelling, redness, trismus (difficulty opening the mouth), painful swallowing and sometimes fever and enlarged lymph nodes. It is one of the most common reasons young adults (17–25) see an oral surgeon. At BadamDent treatment is staged. The first stage controls the acute inflammation: careful complex irrigation (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide) removes inflammatory content from the soft tissues and an antibacterial gel may be placed in the pocket. Antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanate or an alternative) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication are prescribed. Significant improvement is seen within 48–72 hours. The second stage addresses the underlying cause. Once inflammation subsides, accurate diagnostics (panoramic film or CBCT) are performed and the decision is made: if the tooth can erupt correctly, only the operculum is surgically removed (operculectomy). If the tooth will remain a chronic source of problems, planned extraction is recommended. Early intervention prevents far more serious complications such as osteomyelitis, abscess formation and even systemic infections. Don't wait — this kind of inflammation does not resolve on its own.