What is a Dental Operculum?
Sep 15, 2025 Time - 5:12 pm Back To Main

When a wisdom tooth has not yet completely erupted, the gums will partly hide it with a dental operculum. The creation of a pocket where hazardous bacteria may accumulate, leading to illness and discomfort, can be caused by an operculum, which seems innocuous at first glance.

The portion of a tooth that is still covered by soft tissue and has not entirely erupted from the gumline is called an operculum. It usually appears on the lower jaw, above the wisdom teeth that have not fully erupted. An operculum makes it more difficult to clean beneath the region effectively, which may lead to irritation and infection.

Particularly with partly erupted wisdom teeth, a dental operculum is a frequent occurrence. Despite the fact that it may not always be the case, illnesses and pain might result from a lack of cleanliness. Get in touch with Dentistry on Dufferin right away if you notice any swelling or discomfort around a tooth that has just partly erupted.