periodontal
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the periodontium.
-
of or relating to periodontics.
-
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")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
peri-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
-al
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 researchers plan to next examine how bacterial signaling differs across various regions of the mouth and among patients at different stages of periodontal disease.
From Science Daily • Dec. 16, 2025
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
Some experts think nicotine deteriorates gum tissue, which could lead to periodontal disease, said Irfan Rahman, a researcher at the University of Rochester Medicine who has studied nicotine pouches.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024
The team further determined that the Streptococcus group was associated with the presence of periodontal disease, which is characterized by infections and inflammation of the gums and bones around the teeth.
From Science Daily • Nov. 29, 2023
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.
