Abstract: Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of mandibular osteomyelitis caused by pericoronitis of the second molar in children. Methods: From January 2016 to March 2019, a total of 10 children with osteomyelitis of mandible caused by pericoronitis of mandibular second molars were admitted and treated. The average age was 12.1 years old, and the clinical manifestations were facial swelling, stiffness, and limited mouth opening. All 10 patients underwent "mandibular osteomyelitis exploration and curettage biopsy and pericoronal gingival flap resection" under general anesthesia to prevent "extraction of mandibular third molars". The lesions occurred in mandibular body, mandibular angle and ascending ramus, mainly in buccal side. Bone destruction was observed in 9 cases. Extensive osteosclerosis with periosteal new bone parallel to the jaw bone was seen in 10 cases. Results: All 10 patients had good postoperative oral wound healing. The facial swelling subsided and mouth opening improved. The CBCT reexamination 3 months later showed that the area of bone defect was gradually reduced, and the anatomical structure of the diseased jaw could be reshaped close to normal. Conclusion: The patients with mandibular osteomyelitis caused by pericoronitis of mandibular second molars generally are children. Early diagnosis and treatment are helpful to prevent the destruction and aggravation of mandible and to avoid mandible developmental malformation, pathological fracture, and facial malformation. Curettage of mandibular osteomyelitis through an internal incision can achieve good clinical results for the lesions of buccal lesions.

Key words: children, mandibular second molars, pericoronitis, osteomyelitis of mandible