Signs Signs of pericoronitis you may observe upon examination are as follows: A partially erupted tooth Red, inflamed tissue around a partially erupted tooth Pus oozing from under an overlaying tissue flap A  painful  reaction  when  finger  pressure  is applied Swelling in the cheek near the affected tooth Enlarged lymph nodes Elevated temperature Treatment In the treatment of pericoronitis, you may perform the  following  emergency  procedures: Follow the emergency treatment guidelines. Irrigate under the tissue flap with a warm saline solution  (figure  6-5). Gently clean the area with a sonic scaler or hand scaler. Instruct the patient to rinse with a warm  saline solution every 2 hours. Contact dental officer if patient is febrile or if lymph nodes are palpable. The dental officer will  determine  the  need  to  prescribe  anti- biotics. Figure 6-5.—Irrigating beneath a tissue flap. OTHER ORAL CONDITIONS This  section  describes  emergency  conditions resulting  from  inflammation  of  the  oral  mucosa, postexodontic  complications,  and  trauma  to  the  teeth and their supporting structures. STOMATITIS AND RECURRENT LABIAL HERPES “Stomatitis”  is  a  general  term  used  to  denote inflammation of the oral mucosa. Two  types  of stomatitis are common in dentistry, they are herpetic gingivostomatitis  and  aphthous  stomatitis.  Herpetic gingivostomatitis usually occurs on the masticatory or keratinized  tissues,  while  aphthous  stomatitis  usually occurs on the lining or nonkeratinized tissue. Both conditions  are  marked  by  the  formation  of  small blisters and ulcers on the oral mucosa. Recurrent labial herpes is caused by a virus that produces the so-called fever blister or cold sore. They are  usually  found  on  the  lip  and  can  easily  be transmitted to others through casual contact. Symptoms A   patient   with   recurrent   labial   herpes   may complain of the following symptoms: A  painful  swelling A fever blister, cold sore, or canker sore Pain when eating or drinking A fever, headache, or rundown feeling (for herpetic gingivostomatitis ONLY) Signs Upon examination of a patient with recurrent labial herpes, you may observe the following signs: Red, swollen areas with blisters or small craters formed in the center Blisters or craters covered with a grayish-white or yellowish membrane Treatment Perform the emergency treatment guidelines and follow instructions given by the dentist. Instruct the patient NOT to smoke, eat acidic or hot foods, or drink alcohol or use products that contain alcohol such as mouthrises that will dry out the mouth. 6-6