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.

Older adults who met recommended lycopene intake levels had roughly one third the odds of severe periodontitis compared with those whose intake was insufficient.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

Periodontal disease, represented by periodontitis, is the leading cause of tooth loss and affects close to one in five adults worldwide.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

To address this limitation, the research team developed a modified ligature-induced periodontitis model.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

While convenient and effective, this model, however, fails to capture the complete picture of periodontitis.

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