periodontal
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the periodontium.
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of or relating to periodontics.
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of or relating to the periodontal membrane.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of periodontal
Explanation
The adjective periodontal describes anything having to do with the parts of a human mouth that support and surround the teeth. To maintain your periodontal health, don't forget to gently brush your gums! Periodontal literally means "around the tooth," from Greek roots peri-, "around," and odon, "tooth." Mostly, this word refers to gums; periodontal disease is often simply called "gum disease." But the periodontal region of your mouth also includes the bone that holds your tooth sockets and the tiny ligaments that keep your teeth in those sockets. A periodontal specialist is a dentist who pays closer attention to your gums than your teeth.
Vocabulary lists containing periodontal
Body Language: Dent, Dont ("Tooth")
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peri-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Different antimicrobial mouthwashes, whether available over-the-counter or on prescription, can be used in the management of gingivitis, dental caries, periodontal diseases, halitosis, etc."
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic inflammation or infection of the gums and the bone that supports the teeth.
From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025
Simply put, with this model, periodontal disease is artificially induced by ligating silk threads onto the molars of mice models, which induces plaque accumulation.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2024
Work we have done with our collaborators has shown that treating plaque samples from periodontal disease patients with 6.5 mmol of nitrate increased healthy bacteria levels and reduced acidity.
From Salon • Jan. 30, 2024
They really originate in the periosteum of the alveolus or in the periodontal membrane, and are essentially of the nature of fibro-sarcoma.
From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
