Parulis

introduction

Parulis is any soft tissue swelling in the area around the jaw, regardless of its cause. The vernacular describes the Parulis as "big cheek". Clinically, it is an inflammatory, externally perceptible swelling in the jaw area. In most cases, the inflammation is a consequence of a chronic inflammation of a tooth root tip that has passed into an acute stage (apical ostitis chronica), or an inflamed deep gum pocket.The swelling can affect both the cheek and the lips or in the upper jaw area up to the eyelids.

Learn more about: A swollen cheek - what does it mean?

course

The cause of the soft tissue swelling / parulis is an abscess.The starting point is a tooth in which the pulp has died and a chronic inflammation has formed at the tip of the root due to bacteria. The body tries to encapsulate this focus of inflammation with granulation tissue. At the same time, pus forms in this focus, which when weakened breaks through the defensive wall and looks for an exit.

As long as the pus is under the periosteum, great pain occurs, after breaking through the periosteum the pain subsides for a short time. However, this is not a sign of improvement, but the process continues and spreads, so that e.g. B. the whole lower jaw is affected. A mucous membrane abscess with swelling of the soft tissues (parulis) occurs.
Read more about this under: Abscess in the lower jaw

However, a fistula (see also: Fistula on the tooth) through which the pus can drain. However, such a fistula persists and is therefore not a cure since the actual cause has not been eliminated.

therapy

In any case, a Parulis the dentist should be visited. He will split the abscess so that the pus can drain. Drainage prevents newly formed pus from draining. At the same time there is a shield with a antibiotic indicated, this will prevent the infection from spreading further. In most cases, the tooth responsible for this process can no longer be saved and must therefore be removed. One possibility to save the tooth would be a tip resection with a root filling. However, this depends on which tooth it is. With the extraction of the tooth or the apicectomy with root filling, the real cause of a parulis is eliminated. If the cause is a deep gingival pocket, its renovation is also necessary.

Summary

The Parulis is a soft tissue swelling in the Jaw area. The cause is an acute flare-up of chronic inflammation at a tooth root tip. The abscess that has formed is opened by the dentist so that the pus can drain. Extraction of the responsible tooth or an apicectomy removes the cause of the soft tissue swelling and prevents it from occurring again.