periodontal pocket

pocket /pock·et/ (pok´et) a bag or pouch.

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endocardial pockets  sclerotic thickenings of the mural endocardium, occurring most often on the left ventricular septum below an insufficient aortic valve.

gingival pocket  a gingival sulcus deepened by pathological conditions, caused by gingival enlargement without destruction of the periodontal tissue.

pacemaker pocket  the subcutaneous area in which the pulse generator and pacing leads of an internal pacemaker are implanted, usually developed in the prepectoralis fascia or the retromammary area.

periodontal pocket  a gingival sulcus deepened into the periodontal ligament apically to the original level of the resorbed alveolar crest.

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periodontal pocket

Etymology: Gk, peri, around, odous, tooth; Fr, pochette

a pathologic increase in the depth of the gingival crevice or sulcus surrounding a tooth at the gingival margin. Kinds of periodontal pockets include gingival, infrabony, intraalveolar, intrabony, relative, simple, suprabony, and supracrestal.

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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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pocket,

n in dentistry, a deepened gingival sulcus. See also gingival sulcus.

pocket, bleeding,

n an occurrence that denotes ulcerations of the pocket epithelium, with hemorrhaging through the broken surface from exposed connective tissue capillaries. May happen as a result of probing, oral hygiene, or other manipulation of the tissues such as dental procedures or eating.

pocket bottom,

n the base of the pocket, marked or limited by the epithelial attachment to the cementum of the root (periodontal pocket) or the enamel of the crown (gingival pocket). The depth from the base of the pocket to the gingival crest is measured by the periodontal probe.

pocket, calculus,

n the calcified deposits that usually occupy the pocket. It is attached to the tooth structure, with the gingival tissues tightly adapted to the surface of the calculus.

pocket, deepening,

n an increase of the depth of the pocket, which depends on apical proliferation of the epithelial attachment alongside the cementum, with subsequent separation from the tooth, or on hyperplasia of the gingivae resulting from inflammation.

pocket, depth of,

n the measurement, usually expressed in millimeters, of the distance between the gingival crest and the base of the pocket using a periodontal probe.

pocket, elimination,

n the application of therapeutic measures to obtain a healthy gingival attachment and an intact, functioning epithelial attachment. The procedures employed include curettage (root and gingival), reattachment, or new attachment operations, gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, and osseous and mucogingival surgical procedures.

pocket, gingival,

n a pseudopocket or false pocket formation; gingival inflammation with edema, hyperplasia, and ulceration of the sulcular epithelium but without apical proliferation of the epithelial attachment.

pocket in marginal periodontitis,

n a condition in which the inflammatory process has progressed from the gingival tissues to the underlying alveolar process. The changes are those associated with gingivitis and, in addition, resorptive bone lesions. The base of the pocket is at the junction of the epithelial attachment to the cementum of the root.

pocket, infrabony,

n a periodontal pocket, the base of which is apical to the crest of the alveolar bone. Consists basically of a vertical resorptive defect in alveolar and supporting bone, overlying which are a band of transseptal fibers connecting adjacent teeth, disintegrated fibers of gingival tissue, inflammatory cellular infiltrate, and hyperplastic pocket epithelium, accompanied by apical migration of the epithelial attachment. Clinical signs are those of periodontitis, associated with radiographic evidence of vertical bone resorption. It has been classified according to the number of remaining osseous walls supporting it for the purpose of therapeutic rationale. Also called
infracrestal pocket, intraalveolar pocket, and
intrabony pocket.

pocket, infracrestal,

n See pocket, infrabony.

pocket, intraalveolar,

n See pocket, infrabony.

pocket, intrabony,

n See pocket, infrabony.

pocket ionization chamber,

n See chamber, ionization.

pocket, marking,

n the accurate determination and delineation of pocket depth and topography as an aid to diagnosis and prognosis or to provide a guide for the gingivectomy incision or other surgical procedures.

pocket, periodontal,

n a pathologically deepened sulcus, with an ulcerated junctional epithelium and apical proliferation of the epithelial attachment. There is also a loss of bone and disorganization of the periodontal ligament.

pocket, suprabony,

n an area of crestal alveolar bone loss that results in a deepened gingival sulcus.

pocket surgery,

n a generic term referring to gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. See also gingivectomy and gingivoplasty.

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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.