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 human mouth contains more than 700 types of bacteria, but only a small number are linked to periodontitis.

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

Severe periodontitis appeared more frequently in men and in non-Hispanic Black adults than in other groups.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

Untreated apical periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, but its effects extend beyond the mouth.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2025

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