Periodontal Glossary

Apicoetomy:
 	1. The surgical removal of the apex of the tooth root. 
	Most often done in conjunction  with root canal therapy.
 	2. The excision of the apical portion of a tooth root through
	an opening made  in the alveolar cortical bone for removal 
	of a seat of infection.

Apex: 
	The anatomic end of the tooth root.

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B
Bone graft: 
 	Bone or bone marrow taken from one part of a patientís 
	own body and transferred  to another.

Bruxism:
 	Tooth grinding habit.

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C
Calculus:
 	A hard deposit attached to the teeth, usually consisting 
	of mineralized bacterial  plaque.

Candida:
 	Yeast often found in association with oral disease 
	such as ìthrushî.

Caverous resorption:
 	Bone loss leaving hollow spaces. Such resorption may 
	appear on radiographs of  teeth with vertical root fractures.


Cementoenamel, Junction (CEJ):
	The area at which the enamel and cementum are united 
	at the cervical region of  the tooth.

Cementum:
 	A mineralized bone-like tissue that covers the tooth 
	root and blends with the  periodontal ligament to 
	hold the tooth in place.

Chlorhexidine:
 	A biguanide antiseptic agent used to prevent colonization 
	of micro-organisms on  the surfaces of skin, mucous 
	membranes, and teeth.

Collagen:
 	A main supportive protein of skin, bone and 
	other connective tissues.

Crater:
 	A saucer-shaped defect of soft tissue or bone, 
	often seen interdentally.

CT graft (connective tissue):
 	Gum tissue grafted to cosmetically correct gum defects.

Curettage:
 	Scraping or cleaning of the wall of a cavity or surface 
	by means of instrumentation.

Cusp:
 	A notable pointed or rounded eminence on or near 
	the masticating(chewing) surface  of a tooth.

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D
Debridement:
	The removal of inflamed, devitalized, contaminated 
	tissue or foreign material  from or adjacent to a lesion.

Decalcification:
 	The removal of calcium salts from a bone or tooth.

Dehiscence:
 	Drainage site.

Dental hygienist:
 	A licensed, professional dental auxiliary who is both 
	an oral health educator  and clinician and who uses 
	preventive, educational, and therapeutic methods to  
	control oral disease.

Dental plaque:
 	A sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth. 
	The bacteria in dental  plaque is what causes periodontal 
	disease. If plaque is not removed carefully  each day 
	by brushing and flossing, it becomes calculus.

Dental prophylaxis: 
	Teeth cleaning.

Dentifrice:
 	Toothpaste

Dentin:
 	The chief substance or tissue forming the body of teeth.

Dentition:
 	Natural teeth in the dental arch: they may be primary 
	or secondary teeth.

Denture:
	An artificial substitute for missing natural teeth. 
	A complete denture replaces  all of the teeth in an arch.

Distal wedge:
 	A periodontal surgical procedure for removal of excessive 
	soft tissue distal to  a terminal molar and thus gain 
	access to underlying bone.

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E
Edema:
	An abnormal swelling resulting from an accumulation 
	of watery fluid in a tissue.

Edentulous:
 	Without teeth.

Enamel:
 	The hard calcified tissue covering the dentin of the 
	crown portion of a tooth.

Epithelium:
 	The tissue serving as the lining of the intra-oral surfaces. 
	It extends into the  gingival crevice and adheres to 
	the tooth at the base of the cervice.

Etiology:
 	The study of the causes of disease which results from 
	an abnormal state producing  pathological conditions.

Evulsion:
 	The sudden tearing out, or away, of tissue due to 
	a traumatic episode.

Excision:
 	A cutting out: removal: the process of amputating 
	or cutting away any portion  of the body.

Exostosis:
 	A benign bony growth projecting outward from the 
	surface of a bone(tori).

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F
Fibroma:
 	A tumor comprised of fibrous connective tissue.

Fistula:
 	The drainage tract from an abscess.

Flap surgery:
 	The periodontist makes an incision in the gum where 
	periodontal pockets have formed.  He or she reflects the 
	gum flap away, exposing the tooth root and cleans 
	all infection  out from the pocket. Bone regeneration 
	procedures such as bone-grafting may be  performed 
	at this point. The periodontist then positions the gum to 
	reduce the  pocket and promote healing. The incision 
	is sutured closed following the procedure.

Frenectomy:
 	The excision of the frenum—the fold of mucous 
	membrane connecting the lip and  the alveolar process 
	in the midline of both the maxilla and the mandible.

Free gingival gaft:
 	Transplantation of palatal tissue to correct a gum defect.

Furca:
 	Furcation. The anatomic area of a multi-rooted tooth 
	where the roots diverge.

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G
Gingiva:
 	The gum, tissues which immediately surround the teeth 
	and are contiguous with  the periodontal membrane 
	and the mucosal tissue of the mouth.

Gingivectomy:
 	The excision of the gum tissue to eliminate 
	periodontal pockets.

Gingivitis:
 	The first stage of periodontal disease. The gums usually 
	become red, swollen and  bleed easily. This is brought 
	on by the bacteria in dental plaque if not removed  on a 
	daily basis.

Grafts:
	A piece of living tissue placed in contact with injured 
	tissue to repair a defect  or supply a deficiency.

Granuloma:
 	Proliferation of inflammatory tissue.

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H
Halitosis:
 	A foul or unpleasant breath

Hemisection:
 	The surgical separation of a multi-rooted tooth through 
	the furcation area in  such a way that a root or roots 
	may be surgically removed along with the associated  
	portion of the crown. The procedure is most frequently 
	performed on lower molars  but may be performed on 
	any multirooted tooth.

Hyperplasia:
 	The abnormal multiplication or increase in the number 
	of normal cells.

Hypoplasia:
 	Defective or incomplete development of normal cells.

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I
Idiopathic:
 	Of unknown causation.

Impacted tooth:
	An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is 
	positioned against another tooth,  bone or soft tissue 
	so that complete eruption is unlikely.

Implants:
 	Artificial substitutes for tooth roots. Made from titanium 
	and placed in the jaw,  dental implants are either screw, 
	cylinder or blade in form. Prosthetic teeth  are attached to 
	the part of the implant that protrudes through the gum. 
	In many  ways, dental implants function like natural teeth.

Inflammation:
 	Localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction 
	of tissues, which  serves to destroy, dilute, or wall of both 
	in injurious agent and the injured area.

Interdental:
 	Situated between the adjacent surfaces of teeth 
	in the same arch.

Interproximal:
 	Between adjoining surfaces, such as the proximal surfaces 
	of contiguous teeth.

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J
Jaw:
 	A common name for either the maxillae(upper jaw) 
	or the mandible(lower jaw).

Juvenile periodontitis:
 	Inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth 
	that has its onset at puberty.

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K 
Keratin: 
	A protein present hair, nails, teeth and bone.

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L
Labial surface:
 	Toward the lip.

Lesion:
 	An injury or wound.
 
Leukoplakia:
 	A condition marked by the development on mucosal 
	tissue of white, thickened patches  which cannot be rubbed 
	off and which sometimes show a tendency to fissure. 
	It  is common in smokers, and the affected tissue sometimes 
	becomes malignant.

Lichen planus: 
 	An inflammatory mucocutaneous disorder characterized 
	by discrete skin papules  with a keratinized covering with a 
	keratinized covering which often appears in  the form of 
	adherent scales. These oral lesions are common and 
	sometimes the only  manifestation of the disease.

Ligament: 
 	The connective tissue structure that attaches the roots 
	of the teeth to the bone.

Lingual surface: 
 	Pertaining to the tongue.

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M
Maintenance therapy:
 	An ongoing program designed to prevent periodontal disease 
	from recurring for  patients who have undergone periodontal 
	treatment. Also referred to as supportive periodontal therapy.

Malocclusion:
 	Imperfect occlusion of the teeth.

Mandible:
 	The lower jaw.

Mastication:
 	The process of chewing food in preparation for swallowing 
	and digestion.

Maxilla:
 	The upper jaw.

Mesial surface:
 	Toward or situated toward the middle, or the center 
	of the dental arch.

Mobility of teeth:
 	The degree of looseness of a tooth.

Mucogingival:
 	A generic term used to describe the mucogingival junction 
	and its relationships  to the attached gingiva, alveolar 
	mucosa, frenula, muscle attachments and the  buccal and 
	labial vestibule.

Mucosa:
 	The tissue lining the oral cavity.

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N
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis:
 	A severe, recurring infection of the gums. This disease 
	can include spontaneous  bleeding from the gums, pain, 
	a foul smell and dead or dying gum tissue. Recurrent  
	episodes of the disease can lead to bone loss. Also called 	
	trench mouth. Usually  associated with poor oral hygiene 
	along with the triad of: 
				1) smoking, 
				2) stress and 
				3) poor nutrition.

Necrosis:
 	Death of tissue, usually as individual cells, groups of 
	cells, or in small localized areas.

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O
Occlusal:
 	Pertaining to the contacting surfaces of opposing teeth.

Occlusion:
 	Any contact of opposing teeth.

Oral hygiene:
 	Removal of bacterial plaque with brushes, dental floss, 
	and other special instruments. The maintenance 
	of oral cleanliness.

Oral prophylaxis:
 	The removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from the 
	exposed and unexposed surfaces of the teeth by 
	scaling and polishing as a preventive measure for the 
	control  of local irritational factors.

Osseointegration:
	The attachment of the bone to a dental implant. 
	This usually takes three to six months after the implant 
	has been placed in the mouth.

Osseous:
 	Pertaining to bone.

Osseous surgery:
 	Any surgical procedure that deals with the bony 
	support of the teeth.

Osteogenesis:
 	Development of bone: formation of bone.

Osteogenic:
 	Any tissue or substance with the potential to induce 
	growth or repair of bone.

Osteomyelitis:
 	Inflammation of bone marrow and adjacent bone.

Osteoperiosteal:
 	Pertaining to bone and its periostum.

Osteoplasty:
 	Reshaping of the alveolar process to achieve 
	a more physiologic form without removal of alveolar 
	(supporting) bone.

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P
Palate:
 	Hard and soft tissues separating the oral and nasal cavities.

Papilla:
 	The portion of gingiva occupying the interproximal space 
	between adjacent teeth.

Parasthesia:
 	An abnormal sensation, such as burning, prickling, 
	or numbness. It is usually caused by nerve injury and 
	sometimes follows surgical procedures.

Pathogen:
 	Any disease-producting micro-organism or material.

Periapical:
 	Relating to tissue surrounding the apex of a tooth.

Pedicle graft:
	 A graft elevated from a donor site, which remains 
	attached at its base for nourishment and is transferred 
	to an adjacent recipient site.

Periodontal:
 	Situated or occurring around a tooth.

Periodontal ligament:
 	The tissue that attaches the tooth to the bone. Usually 
	destroyed by advanced cases of periodontal disease, 
	creating increased mobility of the teeth.

Periodontal pocket:
 	Toxins in plaque destroy the gum and connective tissues 
	beneath the gum line. The gums pull away from the teeth, 
	forming a pocket (space). As the disease progresses  
	toward the bone, the pocket fills with plaque and infection. 
	If not treated, the bone and connective tissue surrounding 
	the tooth may become so severely damaged  that the 
	tooth will fall out or need to be extracted.

Periodontics:
 	That branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis 
	and treatment of diseases and conditions of the 
	supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their 
	implanted substitutes.

Periodontitis:
 	Inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth.

Periodontium:
 	The tissues that surround and support the teeth, 
	including the gums, periodontal  ligament and bone.

Plaque:
 	Any organized mass, consisting mainly of micro-oraganisms, 
	that adheres to the  tooth or occupies the gingival crevice.

Polyp:
 	A pedunculated tumor arising in a mucous membrane.

Posterior:
 	Behind, situated to the back of.

Preventive treatment:
 	Those procedures performed at intervals that assist the 
	periodontal patient in  maintaining dental health.

Probe:
 	A slender instrument with a blunt end suitable for use 
	in exploring a channel, wound or pocket.

Prognosis:
 	A prediction as to the progress, course, and outcome 
	of a disease.

Prosthesis:
 	The replacement of any part of the human body by 
	an artificial part.

Prosthetics:
 	The art and science of supplying missing parts of 
	the human body.

Provisional splint:
 	A device used to provide temporary stabilization of 
	mobile teeth.

Pulp:
 	The richly innervated and vascularized connective tissue 
	contained within the  pulp chamber and root canal of a tooth.

Pulp Cavity:
 	The internal space within a tooth which normally houses 
	the dental pulp.

Pulpectomy:
 	The complete removal of the dental pulp—root canal therapy.

Purulent:
 	Containing pus.

Pus:
 	A liquified product of inflammation consisting of 
	leukocytes, degenerated tissue elements, tissue fluids 
	and micro-organisms.

Pyorrhea:
 	Flow of pus from a periodontal lesion.

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Q 
Quadrant:
 	One of the four equal sections into which the dental arches 
	can be divided for treatment.

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R
Radicular:
 	Pertaining to the root of a tooth and its adjacent structures.

Radiopacity:
 	The lighter hues on a x-ray.

Radiolucence:
 	The dark hues on a x-ray.

Recall maintenance:
 	An extension of periodontal therapy. The continuing periodic 
	assessment and prophylactic treatment of the mouth.

Rapidly progressive periodontitis:
 	A rare form of periodontal disease which affects young adults 
	typically in the early twenties through mid-thirties. The disease 
	is characterized by severe inflammation  of the gums and 
	a quick onset of the disease. May be related to several forms  
	of rare systemic diseases including diabetes mellitus Type 1, 
	Down's syndrome, Papillon-Lefevresyndrome, and AIDS.

Recession:
 	Location of the gingival margin apical to the cement to 
	enamel junction.

Refractory periodontal disease:
 	A form of recurring periodontal disease resistant to proven 
	treatment methods  which may reflect an underlying 
	systemicor immunologic condition.

Refractory:
 	Persistent, not readily responding to treatment.

Ridge augmentation:
 	A surgical procedure to restore a deformity in the bony ridge.

Root:
 	The anatomic part of a tooth normally within the alveolar bone 
	and attached to  it by the periodontal ligament.

Root amputation:
 	Removal of a root from a tooth.

Root scaling and planing:
 	A non-surgical procedure where the periodontist removes 
	plaque and calculus from  the periodontal pocket and 
	around the tooth root and smoothes the root surfaces 
	to promote healing.

Root planing:
 	A procedure designed to remove cementum or surface dentin 
	that is rough, impregnated with calculus, or contaminated 
	with toxins or microoraganisms.

Root resorption:
 	Loss or blunting of some portion of a root.

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S
Saliva:
 	The tasteless, clear fluid secreted by the major and 
	minor salivary glands.

Scaling:
 	Instrumentation of the crown and root surfaces of the 
	teeth to remove plaque, calculus and stains.

Sextant:
 	One of the six relatively equal sections into which the 
	dental arches can be divided.

Soft palate:
 	The posterior, mobile part of the palate.

Soft tissue:
 	Any noncalcified tissue.

Splint:
 	An appliance or device employed to prevent motion or 
	displacement of loose teeth.

Stent:
	An acrylic appliance used as a positioning guide or support.

Subgingival calculus:
 	Calculus that is apical or below the gum line.

Sublingual:
 	Area below the tongue.

Sulcus:
 	A shallow fissure between the gingiva and the tooth.

Supporting structures:
 	Those tissues immediately surrounding a tooth and 
	connected with it.

Supraocclusion:
 	Teeth usually out of contact with opposing members 
	which have erupted beyond the occlusal level of adjacent
	teeth. Over-erupted.

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T
Temporomandibular joint:
 	TMJ-The connecting, sliding hinge mechanism between 
	the lower jan and the base of the skull.

Tomogram:
 	An x-ray of a selected layer of the body. Gives a projection 
	of the cross section of bone determining width.

Trauma:
 	An injury or wound.

Trench mouth: 
	Inflammation of the gingiva. ANUG

Tuberosity: 
	A bulbous protuberance or elevation of a bone.

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U
Ultrasonic scaling:
 	The use of an ultrasonic scaler to remove mineralized 
	deposits from the tooth surface.

Uvula:
 	A pendulous fleshy mass that hangs from the most posterior 
	border of the soft palate.

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V
Vestibule of the mouth:
 	That portion of the oral cavity which lies between gingiva 	
	and the lips and cheeks.

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