Pericoronitis sufferers…advice please

[bosslady24]

I had two lower partially erupted wisdom teeth. I had one removed a few years ago because it was rotting and also rotting the molar next to it. After a lot of pain I ended up paying privately to have it done and am so pleased it’s gone.

The one on the other side is still there and is generally less problematic although I have had two episodes of pericoronitis in the last 10 years that have required antibiotics to clear up. The last one was particularly painful and I would like to get this one removed too. The dentist is reluctant to refer me because I’ve had such infrequent issues with it and says the waiting list is over a year long anyway. But I’m sick of worrying about it happening again, every little niggle makes me think it’s going to result in an infection. It got a bit painful on holiday this year and really worried me. I keep it as clean as I can with mouthwash rinses after food which is also a pain. The relief of having the other one being taken out has made me realise it’s just easier not to have it there.

I can’t afford to get this done privately again. It cost over £500 last time. Does anyone have any advice? Can I insist to be put on the waiting list?

Has it recently been xrayed at all? If it's partially erupted, it's more likely to be decayed and need removing.

I had both my lowers out recently on the NHS. I thought I'd have to wait ages, but it was less than 2 months after being referred.

Do you use a water flosser to help keep it clean?

Yes the most recent routine X-ray (last year) didn’t show any decay. The other one was at a very odd angle which meant it caused more issues. This one is generally less complicated but there’s a small flap of gum and that’s where food and infection gets in. Like I said it doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s horrid.

I have this. Twice I’ve had to make an emergency appointment at the dentist. The first time I was given antibiotics but the second time she just cleaned it - it was painful but I felt a lot better after it.

I usually get this every few months and now I have a special toothbrush head which is just pointed bristles which I use to clean the area when I first feel a flare up. I clean thoroughly and there’ll be blood, but I’ll then use Corsodyl to try and kill the bacteria. That, and salt water rinses. Usually it starts to clear up within a week or so.

Sometimes I put the toothbrush head in the Corsodyl to apply directly to the area before I swill.

I think the toothbrush was from the middle aisle in Aldi years ago. It’s electric which helps, but I also have a manual one with the same type of head which I bought from Boots.

I also try and avoid peanuts as I find these often trigger a flare up.

But mostly just keep it exceptionally clean. Multiple rinses per day and after meals.