periodontal

periodontal /peri·odon·tal/ (per″e-o-don´t'l)

1. pertaining to the periodontal ligament or periodontium.

2. near or around a tooth.

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per·i·o·don·tal (pr--dntl)

adj.

1. Surrounding or encasing a tooth.

2. Relating to or affecting tissues and structures surrounding and supporting the teeth.

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Periodontal

Pertaining to the gums.

Mentioned in: Oral Hygiene

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periodontal

[per′ē·ōdon′təl]

Etymology: Gk, peri + odous, tooth

pertaining to the supporting structures of a tooth, including the cementum, alveolar bone, and gingiva.

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periodontal (per´ēōdon´tl),

adj relating to the periodontium.

periodontal abscess,

n a localized area of acute or chronic inflammation found in the gingival tissues, infrabony pockets, or periodontal ligament. If it is located at the apex of the tooth, it is known as a
periapical abscess. If located between the apex and the alveolar crest, it is known as a
lateral abscess.

periodontal atrophy,

n See atrophy, periodontal.

periodontal attachment loss,

n a reduction in the connective tissue attaching the root of the tooth to the alveolar bone, usually caused by persistent inflammation of the gingival and periodontal tissues.

periodontal disease,

n a group of inflammatory and infectious diseases affecting the periodontium of the teeth, with various classes noted.

periodontal disease, aggressive,

n marked by the early onset of periodontal disease that affects the gingiva and periodontal tissues. If untreated, it may result in loss of teeth.

periodontal dressing,

n a protective obtundent covering of the gingival and periodontal tissues used after periodontal surgery.

Aggressive periodontal disease.

periodontal index,

n a method for rating or ranking the severity of periodontal disease. An early index was the PMA, which ranked the number of
papillary,
marginal, and
attached gingiva affected by gingivitis. A more contemporary index is the Russell Periodontal Index (PI), which is based on a 0-to-8 score system: from negative to advanced destruction.

periodontal ligament,

n a system of collagenous connective tissue fibers that attaches the root of a tooth to its alveolus of bone by way of Sharpey's fibers. It contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. The ligament consists of five groups of fibers: interdental, alveolar crestal, horizontal, oblique, and apical and possibly interradicular fibers if the tooth is multirooted.

periodontal pack,

n See pack, periodontal.

periodontal pocket,

n See pocket, periodontal.

periodontal probe,

n See probe, periodontal.

periodontal prosthesis,

n See prosthesis, periodontal.

Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR),

n.pr a proprietary method of briefly examining all of a patient's teeth, and recording the highest score in each of six regions of the oral cavity (mid-, mesio-, and distofacial and corresponding lingual areas). The process utilizes a blunt-tipped probe instrument and is intended to take only 2 to 3 minutes.

periodontal therapy,

n See therapy, periodontal.

periodontal treatment planning,

n the sequential arrangement of therapeutic procedures required to obtain a healthy periodontium.

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periodontal

around a tooth; pertaining to the periodontium.

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periodontal abscess

a localized, acute infection that may drain into the gingival pocket or directly through the gum. There is often local bone destruction. See also malar abscess.

periodontal charting

recording the periodontal indices in dental records.

periodontal disease

any disease or disorder of the periodontium. See also periodontitis and periodontosis.

periodontal fibrous hyperplasia

see periodontal fibromatous epulis.

periodontal indices

indicators of periodontal health; includes amount of plaque and calculus, changes in the gingiva, probing depth, evaluation of attachment, and grade of mobility.

periodontal ligament

the connective tissue that occupies the space between each tooth and its socket and that suspends the tooth.

periodontal pocket

a deep space between the gingiva and the crown or root of a tooth. It can be the result of hyperplasia of the gingiva (false pocket) or migration of the epithelial attachment toward the apex (true pocket).

periodontal probe

a dental instrument used to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket.

periodontal pseudopocket

gingival hyperplasia or swelling may be responsible for increased sulcus depth but the periodontal membrane and alveolar bone are normal.