Abstract

MUNOZ SMITMANS, Constanza; INOSTROZA ALARCON, Yessenia; MORENO, Jorge  and  DIAZ CONDAL, Christian. Epidemiology and Treatment of Acute Pericoronitis at Barros Luco Trudeau Hospital, Santiago, Chile. Int. J. Odontostomat. [online]. 2010, vol.4, n.3, pp. 241-244. ISSN 0718-381X.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-381X2010000300006.

Pericoronitis is characterized by inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the crown of a tooth wholly or partially erupted, accompanied by pain. To describe the epidemiology and treatment of acute pericoronitis in patients attending the emergency department of the Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau. A descriptive retrospective study was carried out. We analized 9531 files of patients treated in the Emergency Department Dental Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau and we obtained a sample of 456 files with the diagnosis of acute pericoronitis. The variables considered were age, gender, tooth and the treatment involved. The analysis of the results showed an average age of 24 years, with an approximate ratio of 1:2 of men versus women. The most affected teeth were mandibular third molars. Regarding treatment, approximately 70% of cases medicated with antibiotics and analgesics nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), whereas only 40% had mechanical debridement of the area. Regardless of initial treatment, most of the parts involved were immediately extracted or derived for removal. Our results are consistent with the available literature regarding the variables age, gender and teeth involved. With regard to treatment, the literature reported that the best evidence is the joint realization of a local mechanical therapy and systemic measures that were rare in the service studied.

Keywords : pericoronitis; third molar; debridement; extractions.