What is Dental Operculum and Do You Have It?

Dental operculum is soft gum tissue that partially covers an erupting tooth. It typically goes away on its own while the tooth fully erupted but there are cases where it must be surgically removed. Every case is different but it serves dental patients well to know when to see a dentist to have the dental operculum removed.

The most common event for a dental operculum is when wisdom teeth start erupting. Wisdom teeth start coming in sometime between the ages of 18 and 30. They may come in all at once or one at a time. There isn’t a set pattern. The dental operculum could lay over the tooth as it’s trying to erupt through the gum.

Another common incident of dental operculum is when molars, or the back teeth, start coming in. Dental operculum doesn’t typically happen with front teeth on the upper or bottom jaw.

Symptoms of Dental Operculum

Dental operculum can become a problem if it causes pain or swelling. It can also cause a mouth odor or a bad taste in your mouth. Another symptom is that you may have trouble opening your jaw. These are times to see a dentist for pain and symptom relief.

Your dentist may suggest either leaving it alone to see if it goes away on its own or surgery to remove it with an operculectomy. The decision depends on which category the dental operculum falls into. Typically, the solution is to remove the tooth if it covers wisdom teeth.

Types of Dental Operculum

Dental operculum falls into three categories, mild, large, and wisdom teeth. This refers to the thickness of the soft tissue over the tooth. Mild cases will allow the tooth to break through the gum tissue and the dental operculum will go away. Large cases are when the tooth is having trouble breaking through the tissue and an operculectomy is needed. The type of dental operculum you have can be determined by a dentist with an exam. In some cases, the dentist may advise you to wait to see if the tooth erupts before they schedule surgery.

Wisdom teeth dental operculum means the tooth doesn’t have the space to grow so it will need to be extracted.

Different Treatments

Those with a dental operculum should keep it clean. That can be crucial in reducing pain. You can do this by gently rubbing over the area with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a specialty toothbrush meant for reaching back areas. Using mouthwashes and rinses helps also. This is particularly helpful in reducing inflammation with milder cases until the tooth erupts and the tissue goes away.

The operculectomy is done by a dental surgeon using a scalpel or laser. While this is a simple procedure, there could be some short-term side effects like soreness, bruising, and difficulty opening your jaw. The risk is lingual nerve damage that can cause a loss of taste or numbness on the side of your tongue near the affected area.

Your oral surgeon will tell you to take some antibiotics, pain medicine and rest for a few days after an operculectomy. Your diet will need to be soft foods for two or three days.

A Problem With Dental Operculum

One of the problems with a dental operculum is it can cause an erupting tooth to become impacted, which means it grows in a way other than how it is supposed to grow. This can be a problem with wisdom teeth, since they are the furthest back in the mouth.

A dental surgeon will need to remove an impacted tooth because they can cause significant pain and other problems. This is why it’s good to see a dentist when you first start having pain so they can evaluate the dental operculum and the tooth underneath to offer a recommendation.

Do you have pain? Schedule an appointment with us today and let us help you!