periodontitis

American

[per-ee-oh-don-tahy-tis] / ˌpɛr i oʊ dɒnˈtaɪ tɪs /

noun

Dentistry.

inflammation of the periodontium caused by bacteria that infect the roots of teeth and the surrounding gum crevices, producing bleeding, pus formation, and gradual loss of bone and the tissues that support the teeth.

Etymology

Origin of periodontitis

First recorded in 1870–75; periodont(ium) + -itis

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.

The patients in the study had apical periodontitis, a deep infection located around the very end of a tooth root.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

If left untreated, this inflammation can progress into chronic periodontitis, leading to gum recession and tooth loss.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Nearly half of the older adults included in the study, about 48.7%, showed signs of periodontitis.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

"Matcha may have clinical applicability for prevention and treatment of periodontitis," the authors noted in the paper.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

The infection may spread from the tooth to the alveolo-dental periosteum, and set up a periodontitis.

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