Periodontics (Frequently Asked Questions) Priya Verma Gupta, Vinita Ashutosh Boloor
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Definitions

 
Gingiva
Gingiva is defined as that part of oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the teeth in a collar like fashion.
 
Periodontal ligament
It is a complex vascular and highly cellular connective tissue that surrounds the tooth root and connects it to inner wall of the alveolar bone.
 
Alveolar bone
It is defined as that portion of the maxilla and mandible which forms and supports the tooth socket.
 
Cementum
The calcified, avascular mesenchymal tissue that forms the outer covering of the anatomic root.
 
Plaque
It is a specific but highly variable structural entity, resulting from sequential colonization of microorganisms on tooth surfaces, restorations and other parts of oral 2cavity, composed of salivary components like mucin, desquamated epithelial cells, debris and microorganisms, all embedded in extracellular gelatinous matrix.
 
Calculus
An adherent calcified or calcifying amorphous mass that forms on the surface of natural teeth, restorations and dental prosthesis.
 
Inflammation
The local response of living tissues to injury due to any agent. It is the body's defense mechanism in order to eliminate or reduce the spread of injurious agent as well as to remove the consequent necrosed cells and tissues.
 
Host
The organism from which a micro-organism obtains its nourishment and modulation.
 
Diabetes
Diabetes is defined as clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders manifested by high levels of glucose in blood.
 
Oral malodor/halitosis/breath malodor
The unpleasant subjective perception after smelling someone's breath due to some pathological cause.
 
Gingival abscess
Gingival abscess is a localized, acute inflammatory lesions that can arise due to various number of sources such as microbial, trauma and foreign body compactions.
 
Desquamative gingivitis
Desquamative gingivitis is a clinical term used to describe red, painful, glazed and friable gingiva, which may be a 3manifestation of some mucocutaneous conditions such as lichen planus or similar disorders.
 
Periodontal pocket
A pathologically deepened gingival sulcus.
 
Trauma from occlusion
When the forces exceed the adaptive capacity of the tissues, tissue injury results. The resultant injury is termed as trauma from occlusion.
 
Chronic periodontitis
An infectious disease resulting in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, causing attachment loss and bone loss.
 
Wasting diseases
Any gradual loss of tooth substance characterized by deformation of smooth and polished surfaces, without regard to the possible mechanism of this loss.
 
Erosion/corrosion
It is a wedge shaped depression which is sharply defined in the cervical area of the facial region of the tooth.
 
Attrition
It is the occlusal wear caused due to functional contacts with opposite teeth.
 
Risk assessment
Risk is the probability that an individual will develop a specific disease in a given period. There are numerous components which define risk assessment.
 
Prognosis
Prognosis is defined as the prediction of the probable course, duration and outcome of a disease based on the 4general knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease and the presence of risk factors for the disease and the likelihood of its response to treatment.
 
New attachment
It is the formation of new periodontal ligament into cementum.
 
Reattachment
The establishment of an organic connection between connective tissue and cementum in the area of gingival or periodontal pocket.
 
Dental Plaque
It can be defined as the soft deposits that form the biofilm adhering to the tooth surface or other hard surfaces in the oral cavity, including removable and fixed restorations.
 
Plaque control
It is the removal of microbial plaque and the prevention of its accumulation on the teeth and adjacent gingival surfaces.
 
Gingivoplasty
It is reshaping of the gingiva to create physiologic gingival contours, with the main purpose of recontouring of gingiva.
 
Curettage
The scraping of the gingival wall of a periodontal pocket to separate diseased soft tissue.
 
Gingivectomy
Excision of the gingiva.
 
Periodontal flap
A section of gingiva or mucosa surgically separated from the underlying tissue to provide visibility of and access to the bone and root surfaces.5
 
Osseous surgery
The procedure by which changes in the alveolar bone can be accomplished to rid it of deformaties induced by the periodontal disease process or other related factors, such as exostosis and tooth supraeruption.
 
Furcation involvement
The invasion of bifurcation or trifurcation of multirooted tooth by periodontitis.
 
Dental implants
A prosthetic device of alloplastic material(s) implanted into the oral tissues beneath the mucosal and/or periosteal layer, and on/or within the bone to provide retention and support for a fixed or removable prosthesis.
 
Osseointegration
The apparent direct attachment or connection of osseous tissue to an inert and alloplastic material without intervening connective tissue.
 
Acquired pellicle
It is a homogenous, membranous and acellular film that covers the tooth surfaces and frequently forms the interface between the surface of the dental plaque and calculus.
 
Active eruption
Active eruption is the movement of the teeth in the direction of the occlusal plane.
 
Actual position
It is the level of the epithelial attachment on the tooth.
 
Adult periodontitis
A form of periodontitis that usually has an onset beyond the age of 35 years. Bone resorption usually progresses slowly and predominantly in the horizontal direction.6
 
Aggressive periodontitis
It is a periodontal destruction that becomes clinically significant around adolescence or early adulthood.
 
Allograft
A graft between genetically dissimilar members of the same species.
 
Alloplastic graft
A graft of inert synthetic material, which is sometimes called, implant material.
 
Alveolar bone proper
It is a plate of compact bone, the radiographic image of which is termed as lamina dura.
 
Alveolar mucosa
Mucosa covering the basal part of the alveolar process of continuing without demarcation into the vestibular fornix and the floor of the mouth. It is loosely attached to the periosteum and is movable.
 
Ankylosis
Fusion of the cementum and the alveolar bone with the obliteration of the periodontal ligament is termed as ankylosis.
 
Antibiotics
These are naturally occurring, semisynthetic or synthetic type of antimicrobial agents that destroy or inhibit the growth of selective microorganisms, generally at low concentrations.
 
Antibody
A class of serum proteins that are induced following interaction with an antigen. They bind specifically to the antigen that induced their formation.7
 
Antigen
Any material that is specifically bound by antibody. A structure recognized as foreign by the immune system.
 
Antimicrobial agent
It is a chemotherapeutic agent that works by reduction in bacterial number.
 
Apparent position
It is the level of the crest of the gingival margin.
 
Attached gingival width
It is the distance between the mucogingival junction and the projection on the external surface of the bottom of the gingival sulcus or the periodontal pocket. The attached gingiva is continuous with the marginal gingiva. It is firm, resilient and tightly bound to the underlying periosteum of the alveolar bone.
 
Autograft
Tissue transferred from one position to another within the same individual.
 
Biofilm
It is defined as matrix enclosed bacterial population adherent to each other and/or to surface or interface.
 
Biointegration
Bonding of the living bone to the surface of an implant, usually independent of any mechanical interlocking mechanism.
 
Biologic depth
It is the distance between the gingival margin and the base of the pocket (coronal end of the junctional epithelium).8
 
Biologic width
The dimension of space that the healthy gingival tissues occupy above the alveolar bone.
 
Bruxism or occlusal necrosis
The clenching or grinding of the dentition during non-functional movements of the masticatory system.
 
Bulbous bone contours
These are bony enlargements caused by exostosis, adaptation to function and buttressing bone formation. They are commonly found in maxilla.
 
Bullous pemphigoid
It is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal, bullous disease with tense bullae that rupture and become flaccid.
 
Bundle bone
The layer of the alveolar bone into which the principal fibers (Sharpey's fibers) are inserted.
 
Buttressing bone formation/lipping bone formation
Occurs in an attempt to buttress bony trabeculae that are weakened by resorption. If it occurs within the jaw, it is termed central buttressing bone formation. When it occurs on external surface, it is referred to as peripheral buttressing bone formation.
 
Cell-mediated immunity
An immune reaction mediated by activated T lymphocytes, involving release of biologic response modifiers (lymphokines) on exposure to antigen.
 
Secondary cementum
Cementum that forms after tooth eruption and in response to functional demand.9
 
Chemotaxis
It is the locomotion of cells, which is directed along an increasing chemical gradient of a soluble substance.
 
Chemotherapeutic agent
Chemical substance that provides chemical therapeutic benefit.
 
Chronic periodontitis
An infectious disease resulting in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, leading to progressive attachment loss accompanied with bone loss.
 
Clenching
It is the closure of the jaws under vertical pressure.
 
Complement
A group of serum proteins involved in the control of inflammation, the activation of phagocytes and lytic attack on cell membranes. It can be activated by interaction with antigen-antibody complexes or bacterial substances.
 
Compromise osseous reshaping
It indicates a bone pattern that cannot be improved without significant osseous removal that would be detrimental to overall result.
 
Contact inhibition
Inhibition of movement and division caused by physical contact between cells of the same type. The process by which the graft material prevents apical proliferation of the epithelium.
 
Coronal cementum
Cementum that is found deposited on the occlussal areas above the enamel.10
 
Cuticle
It is thin, acellular structure with a homogenous matrix, sometimes enclosed within clearly demarcated and linear borders.
 
Cyst
Cyst is a swelling consisting of fluid, semi-fluid and gaseous content, which may or may not be lined by epithelium or endothelium.
 
Cytokines
A small protein messengers released by cells, which affects the division, differentiation and function of various other cells.
 
Debridement
The removal of inflamed, devitalized or contaminated tissue/foreign material from the adjacent site alongwith the lesion to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.
 
Degree of separation
It is the angle of separation between two roots.
 
Dental epidemiology
The study of pattern (distribution) and dynamics of dental diseases in a human population.
 
Dental splint
An appliance designed to immobilize and stabilize loose teeth.
 
Dental stain
Pigmented deposits on tooth surface.
 
Dentifrice
Agent that aids in cleaning and polishing tooth surfaces.11
 
Desmosome
A specialized attachment between epithelial cells, to impart strength to epithelium.
 
Diagnosis
It may be defined as identifying disease from an evaluation of the history, signs and symptoms, laboratory tests and procedures.
 
Disclosing agents
They are solutions or wafers capable of staining bacterial deposits on the surface of teeth, tongue and gingiva.
 
Disinfectant
An antimicrobial agent that is generally applied to inanimate surfaces to destroy microorganisms.
 
Displaced flap
It is placed apically, coronally or laterally to their original position.
 
Disuse or functional atrophy
The thinning of periodontal ligament, with reduced number as well as thickness of trabeculae pertaining to reduced occlusal forces.
 
Divergence
It is the distance between two roots (cones). This distance normally tends to increase with age in apical direction.
 
Down syndrome
It is a congenital disease caused by a chromosomal abnormality and characterized by mental deficiency and growth retardation.
 
Ecological niche
The functional position, which bacterial species occupies within a complex ecosystem such as plaque.12
 
Electrocoagulation
The process which provides a wide range of coagulation or hemorrhage control using electrocoagulation current. Electrosection electrotomy or acusection is used for incision, excision and tissue planing.
 
Electrofulguration
A method of electrosurgery used to produce superficial desiccation of tissue, which employs a highly or moderately damped alternating current that is radiated through a monoterminal active electrode that is held close to the patient, so that the sparks spray over the lesion being treated.
 
Electrosurgery (radiosurgery)
It is currently used to identify surgical techniques performed on soft tissue using controlled high frequency electrical current in the range of 1.5–7.5 million cycles/second or MHz.
 
Electrosurgery
The process of division of tissue by high frequency electrical current applied locally with a metal instrument or needle.
 
Endodontic-periodontal lesions
The periapical lesions in which necrosis may drain to the oral cavity through periodontal ligament and adjacent alveolar bone perceding pulpal inflammation.
 
Endotoxin
A complex heat stable toxin usually with an active component, such as lipopolysaccharide (a structural component of gram-negative bacterial cell wall).
 
Epidemiology
The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.13
 
Epithelial adaptation
It is the close apposition of the gingival epithelium to the tooth surface without obliteration of the pocket.
 
Epulis
It is the generic term to designate all discrete tumor and tumor-like mass of gingiva.
 
Erosion (cuneiform defect)
It is a sharply defined wedge-shaped depression in the cervical area of the facial tooth surface.
 
Etiology
The cause of disease, for instance, in the case of microbial dental plaque, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
 
Excisional new attachment
It is a definitive subgingival curettage performed with a knife.
 
Excursive movement
Any movement of the mandible away from intercuspal position.
 
Exostosis
It is the outgrowth of the bone of varied size and shape.
 
Exploratory stroke
It is a light ‘feeling’ stroke performed with probe and explorer to evaluate the dimensions of the pocket and to detect calculus and irregularities on the tooth surface.
 
Exposure
It is defined as a factor that may possibly lead to cause of disease or may be protective against a disease.14
 
Extrusion
Pathologic migration in the occlusal or incisal direction is termed as extrusion.
 
Fc
The part of an immunoglobulin molecule, which binds to specific receptors on neutrophils and macrophages, except an antigen.
 
Fibronectin
A connective tissue protein, which binds cells to the extracellular matrix.
 
Fibro-osseous integration
An integration in which soft tissues such as fibers and/or cells are interposed between the two surfaces.
 
Fimbriae
A fine filamentous surface appendage on a bacterium. These are important for attachment and adhesion.
 
Finger rest
The finger rest serves to stabilize the hand instrument by providing a firm fulcrum, as movement is made to activate the instrument.
 
Flat architecture
It is reduction of the interdental bone to the same height as radicular bone.
 
Food impaction
It is the forceful wedging of food into the periodontium by occlusal forces.
 
Fremitus
A palpable or visible movement of teeth when subjected to occlusal forces. It is the measurement of the vibratory 15patterns of the teeth when teeth are placed in contacting positions and movements.
 
Frenectomy
It is complete removal of the frenum, including its attachment to underlying bone and may be required in correction of an abnormal diastema between maxillary central incisors.
 
Frenotomy
It is the incision of frenum.
 
Frenum
It is a fold of mucous membrane usually with enclosed muscle fibers that attaches the lip and cheeks to the alveolar mucosa and/or gingiva and underlying periosteum.
 
Full thickness flap
All the soft tissue, including the periosteum is reflected to expose the underlying bone.
 
Furcational entrance
It is the transitional area between the divided and undivided part of the root.
 
Furcational fornix
The roof of the furcation.
 
Furcation invasion
Pathologic resorption of bone within the furcation.
 
Furcation involvement
Furcation involvement refers to the invasion of the bifurcation and trifurcation of multirooted teeth by periodontal disease.16
 
Generalized aggressive periodontitis
Clinically characterized by generalized interproximal attachment loss affecting at least three permanent teeth other than first molars and incisors.
 
Genetic marker
Genetic marker refers to any gene or nucleotide sequence that can be mapped to a specific location or region on a chromosome.
 
Genotype
The generic composition of an organism.
 
Gingival abscess
It is a localized, painful and rapidly expanding lesion, which is usually of sudden onset. It is generally limited to the marginal gingiva or interdental papilla. It can be localized in the gingiva, caused by injury to the outer surface of the gingiva not involving the supporting structures.
 
Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF)
It is an altered serum transudate found in the gingival sulcus.
 
Gingival enlargement
Increase in the size of the gingiva.
 
Gingival hyperplasia
An enlargement of gingiva due to the increase in the number of cells.
 
Gingival pocket (pseudopocket)
This type of pocket is formed by gingival enlargement without destruction of the underlying periodontal tissues.17
 
Gingival sulcus
It is the shallow crevice or space around the tooth bounded by the surface of the tooth on one side and the epithelial lining the free margin of the gingiva on the other side.
 
Gingivoplasty
It is the reshaping of the gingiva to create physiologic gingival contour, with the sole purpose of recontouring the gingiva in the absence of periodontal pocket.
 
Glycosaminoglycan
A molecule of repeating sugar subunits, which forms a major component of ground substance of connective tissue.
 
Graft
It is a viable tissue/organ which after its removal from donor site, is either implanted or transplanted within the host tissue, where it is than repaired, restored and remodelled.
 
Guided tissue regeneration
An epithelial exclusionary technique that promotes new connective tissue attachment without the use of any implant material.
 
Habit
An act of repeated performance, almost automatic, such as bruxism or tongue thrusting.
 
Hemisection
It is surgical removal of a root with the associated part of crown. It is the splitting of the two-rooted tooth into two separate portions. The process has been called bicuspidization or separation.18
 
Hemiseptum
The one walled defect is called hemiseptum.
 
Homeostasis
The production of a stable equilibrium in a body system by means of feedback mechanisms.
 
Horizontal bone loss
The common pattern of bone loss in which bone is reduced in height, but the bone margins are roughly perpendicular to the tooth surface.
 
Hydrolytic enzymes
A class of enzymes, which cleaves various types of bonds including peptide, ester and glycosidic bonds by addition of water. For e.g., many degradative and lysosomal enzymes.
 
Hypercementosis
It refers to the prominent thickening of the cementum. It may be localized or generalized.
 
Hyperfunction
It is a functional adaptation in which additional structural elements are formed on cementum and in bone to withstand the added forces, expressed clinically and microscopically as a thickened lamina dura, buttressing bone formation, osteosclerosis and cemental spurs.
 
Hypersensitivity
The root surfaces exposed by gingival recession may be hypersensitive to thermal changes or tactile stimulation.
 
Iatrogenic factors
Inadequate dental procedures that contribute to the deterioration of the periodontal tissues.19
 
Immune complex
A complex of antigen and antibody molecules that are bound to each other and later together.
 
Immunogenicity
It is the capacity to induce a detectable immune response such as the production of antibody or the stimulation of cellular immunity.
 
Immunoglobulin
A glycoprotein composed of heavy and light peptide chains; functions as antibody in serum and secretions.
 
Inadvertent curettage
Some degree of curettage is done unintentionally, while scaling and root planing is performed.
 
Intercuspal position (ICP)
The position of the mandible when there is maximum intercuspation between the maxillary and mandibular teeth (Synonym Centric occlusion).
 
Interdental gingiva
The type of gingiva which occupies the gingival embrasure i.e., the interproximal space beneath the area of tooth contact.
 
Intermediate cementum
It is an ill-defined zone near cementodentinal junction of certain teeth that appears to contain cellular remnants of Hertwig's sheath embedded in calcified ground substance.
 
Intrabony defects
The three-walled vertical defect was originally called intrabony defect.20
 
Junctional Epithelium
A single or multiple layers of non-keratinizing cells adhering to the tooth surface at the base of the gingival crevice. It denotes the tissue that joins to the tooth on one side and to the oral sulcular epithelium and connective tissue on the other.
 
Juvenile periodontitis
A disease of periodontium occurring in an otherwise healthy adolescent, which is characterized by a rapid loss of alveolar bone, involving more than one tooth of the permanent dentition.
 
Lamina dura
The compact bone (alveolar bone proper), which lines the tooth socket and in a radiograph appears as a dense opaque line.
 
Lateral pressure
The pressure created when force is applied against the surface of a tooth with the cutting edge of a bladed instrument.
 
Ledges
These are plateau-like bone margins caused by resorption of thickened bony plates.
 
Leukemia
It is a malignant neoplasia of white blood cell (WBC) precursors.
 
Leukoplakia
A white patch or plaque that does not rub off on scraping and cannot be diagnosed as any other disease.21
 
Lichen planus
It is a relatively common, chronic dermatosis characterized by the presence of cutaneous, violaceous papules that may coalesce to form plaques. It is defined as unique cutaneous entity consisting of an eruption of papules usually distinct in color, configuration, patterns, location of appearance, microscopic and gross structure.
 
Lipopolysaccharide
The active component of bacterial endotoxins.
 
Localized gingivitis
It is confined to the gingiva of a single tooth or group of teeth.
 
Localized aggressive
It is characterized as a disease with proximal periodontitis attachment loss on at least two permanent teeth, particularly first molar and incisors.
 
Localized diffuse gingivitis
It extends from the gingival margin to the mucobuccal fold, but is limited in area.
 
Localized marginal gingivitis
It is confined to one or more areas of the marginal gingiva.
 
Localized periodontitis
It is considered localized when less than 30% of the sites assessed in the mouth, demonstrate loss of bone attachment.
 
Loci
Loci are defined as the specific location on the chromosomes.22
 
Lymphokines
Cytokines secreted by lymphocytes. Cytokines is not a preferred term for this group of substances because these are secreted by many other types of cells.
 
Malnutrition
Any disorder of nutrition, it may be due to imbalance or insufficient diet or to defective assimilation or utilization of foods.
 
Marginal gingiva
The terminal edge or border of the gingiva surrounding the teeth in a collar-like fashion.
 
Marginal gingivitis
Inflammation of the gingival margin which may include a portion of the contiguous attached gingiva.
 
Marginal plaque
It is the supragingival plaque that is in direct contact with the gingival margin.
 
Masticatory mucosa
The gingival and mucosal covering of hard palate.
 
Materia alba
It is a yellowish or whitish, soft, sticky deposit and is somewhat less adherent than dental plaque. It is a concentration of microorganisms, desquamated epithelial cells, food debris, leukocytes and mixture of salivary proteins and lipids.
 
McCall's festooning
These are life preserver-shaped enlargements of the marginal gingiva that occurs most frequently in the canine and premolar areas on the facial surface.23
 
Mediotrusive side
The side of either dental arch corresponding to the side of mandible moving towards the midline (Synonym Balancing side, non-working side).
 
Metalloproteinases
Enzymes, which degrade protein in the presence of metal ions, usually calcium and magnesium.
 
Mobility
It is a measurement of horizontal and vertical tooth displacement created by examiner's force.
 
Moderate periodontitis
Periodontal destruction is generally considered moderate if 3–4 mm of clinical attachment loss has occurred.
 
Modified pen grasp
The thumb, index finger and middle finger are used to hold the instrument as a pen is held, but the middle finger is positioned so that the side of the pad next to the fingernail is resting on the instrument shank. The index finger is bent at the second joint from the fingertip and is positioned well above the middle finger on the same side of the handle.
 
Modified widman flap
A scalloped, replaced, mucoperiosteal flap, accomplished with an internal bevel incision that provides access for root planing.
 
Monocyte
A large mononuclear phagocytic leukocyte—the circulating precursors of macrophages.
 
Mucogingival deformity
It is defined as a significant departure from the normal 24shape of gingiva and alveolar mucosa, and may involve the underlying alveolar bone.
 
Mucogingiva
It is defined as a generic term used to describe the mucogingival junction and its relationship to the gingiva, alveolar mucosa, frenula, muscle attachments, vestibular fornices and the floor of the mouth.
 
Mucogingival surgery
It is defined as periodontal surgical procedures designed to correct defects in the morphology, position, and/or amount of gingiva.
 
Mucous membrane pemphigoid
It is a chronic, vesiculobullous and an autoimmune disorder of unknown cause that predominantly affects women in the 5th decade of life, also known as cicatricial pemphigoid.
 
Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis
It is an extension of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) into the periodontal structures, leading to bone and attachment loss. It is defined as severe and rapidly progressive disease that has a distinctive erythema of the free gingiva, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa; extensive soft tissue necrosis; severe loss of periodontal attachment; deep pocket formation is not evident.
 
Negative architecture
It refers to a condition, in which interdental bone is more apical than radicular bone.
 
Neutrophil
A phagocytic polymorphonuclear leukocyte.25
 
Non-displaced flap
When the flap is returned and sutured in its original position.
 
Non-thrombocytopenic purpura
It occurs as a result of either vascular wall fragility or thrombasthenia.
 
Occlusal trauma
An injury to the attachment apparatus as a result of excessive occlusal force.
 
Offset blade
The term used to describe Gracey curettes, as they are angled approximately 60–70 degrees from the lower shank.
 
Opsonin
A substance, which facilitates phagocytosis when bound to the surface of a bacterium or other particle. A substance capable of enhancing phagocytosis.
 
Oral candidiasis
Infection of oral mucous membrane by a fungus of the genus Candida.
 
Oral epithelium
The epithelium which covers the crest and outer surface of marginal gingiva alongwith the surface of attached gingiva.
 
Oral mucosa
The tissue lining the oral cavity.
 
Osseous craters
The concavities in the crest of the interdental bone, confined within the facial and lingual walls.26
 
Osseous defects
Various types of bone deformities that can result from periodontal disease.
 
Ostectomy
It is defined as the excision of bone or portion of bone in periodontics; ostectomy is done to correct or reduce deformities caused by periodontitis and includes removal of the supporting bone.
 
Osteoclast activating factor (OAF)
A mixture of cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF-β and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which induces bone resorption. It was previously considered to be a distinct cytokine.
 
Osteoconduction
It is a physical effect by which the matrix of the graft forms scaffold that favors outside cells to penetrate the graft and form new bone. The graft material acts as passive material, like a trellis for new bone to cover.
 
Osteogenesis
The formation or development of new bone by cells contained in the graft.
 
Osteoinduction
A process by which graft material is capable of promoting cementogenesis, osteogenesis and new periodontal ligament. It is a chemical process by which molecules contained in the graft (BMPs) convert the neighboring cells into osteoblast, i.e., the bone forming cells.
 
Osteoplasty
The reshaping of alveolar process to achieve a more physiologic form without removal of the supporting bone.27
 
Passive eruption
Passive eruption is the exposure of the teeth by apical migration of the gingiva.
 
Pathologic migration
This refers to tooth displacement that results when the balance among the factors that maintain physiologic tooth position is disturbed by periodontal disease.
 
Pellicle
An organic coating formed when the crown of the tooth erupts and is exposed to saliva, which is called dental pellicle.
 
Peri-implant mucositis
Inflammatory changes confined to the soft tissue surrounding an implant.
 
Peri-implantitis
A term used to describe inflammation around a dental implant and/or its abutment.
 
Periodontal abscess
It is a localized accumulation of pus within gingival wall of a periodontal pocket. Localized purulent inflammation in the periodontal tissues. Periodontal abscess are acute lesions that may result in very rapid destruction of the periodontal tissues. These are purulent infections localized to the gingival, periodontal or pericoronal regions.
 
Periodontal cyst
A small cyst of periodontal ligament found most often in the mandibular canine and premolar area; associated with a vital tooth and postulated to originate from the rests of Malassez, the rests of the dental lamina or a supernumerary tooth bud.28
 
Periodontal disease
A group of inflammatory conditions of the supportive tissues of the teeth that are caused by bacteria.
 
Periodontal dressing/pack
A protective material applied over the wound created by periodontal surgical procedures.
 
Periodontology
The branch of dentistry concerned with prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. In other words, the clinical science that deals with the periodontium in health and disease is called periodontology and its practice is termed periodontics.
 
Phagocytosis
It is the process by which cells ingest particles of a size visible by light microscopy.
 
Phase I therapy
The process to alter or eliminate the microbial etiology and other contributing factors responsible for gingival and periodontal diseases.
 
Plasma cell
A mature B lymphocyte, which secretes antibody.
 
Positive architecture
This refers to radicular bone located apical to interdental bone.
 
Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis
It is an infection of the oral cavity caused by the herpes simplex virus type-1.
 
Primary trauma from occlusion
It is the injury resulting from excessive occlusal forces applied 29to a tooth or teeth with normal support. It includes a tissue reaction, which is elicited around a tooth with normal height of the periodontium. When trauma from occlusion is the result of alteration in the occlusal forces, it is called primary trauma from occlusion.
 
Probing depth
It is a distance to which an ad hoc instrument (probe) penetrates into pocket.
 
Proteoglycan
A protein with numerous glycosaminoglycan side chains usually a component of connective tissue ground substance.
 
Puberty gingivitis
A higher prevalence and severity of gingivitis and gingival enlargement is found in the circumpubertal period.
 
Pyogenic granuloma
It is a tumor-like gingival enlargement that is considered an exaggerated conditioned response to minor trauma.
 
Pyorrhea
An archaic term for several periodontal diseases.
 
Radicular cementum
Cementum that covers the root.
 
Radius of action
Range of effectiveness of about 1.5–2.5 mm within which bacterial plaque can induce loss of bone.
 
To attach again
The reunion of epithelial and connective tissue with root surfaces and bone, which occurs after an incision or injury.30
 
Redox potential
A measure of the ease with which oxidation and reduction reactions will occur.
 
Refractory periodontitis
According to American Academy of Periodontology, it has been defined as, those cases, which do not respond to any treatment provided, whatever be the thoroughness or frequency. It includes patients who are unresponsive to any treatment provided, whatever be the thoroughness or frequency; as well as patients with recurrent disease at single or multiple sites.
 
Regeneration
It is the growth and differentiation of new cells and intercellular substances to form new tissue and parts of lost or injured tissue.
 
Repair
Healing of a wound by scar formation that does not fully restore the architecture or function of the part. It restores the continuity of the diseased marginal gingiva and re-establishes a normal gingival sulcus at the same level on the root as the base of the pre-existing periodontal pocket.
 
Risk factor
It is defined as an aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, an environmental exposure, alongwith an inborn or inherited characteristic, on the basis of epidemiologic evidence. It is known to be associated with health conditions considered important for prevention.
 
Risk indicator
A probable or putative risk factor that has been associated with the disease through cross-sectional studies.31
 
Risk marker
A factor that is associated with increased probability of future disease.
 
Risk
It is the probability that an individual will get a specific disease in a given period of time.
 
Root amputation
The removal of a root from multirooted teeth.
 
Root planing stroke
It is a moderate to light pull stroke that is used for final smoothening and planing of the root surface.
 
Root planing
It is the process by which residual embedded calculus and portion of cementum are removed from the roots to produce a smooth, hard and clean surface.
 
Hemisection
It is the splitting of two rooted tooth into two separate portions.
 
Root resection
It is the surgical removal of all or a portion of root before or after endodontic treatment.
 
Root separation/bicuspidization
It is the sectioning of the root complex and maintenance of all roots.
 
Saliva
The fluid secreted by the salivary glands that aids in the digestion of food.32
 
Scaling stroke
It is short, powerful pull stroke that is used with bladed instruments for the removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus.
 
Scaling
The process by which plaque and calculus are removed from both supragingival and subgingival tooth surface.
 
Secondary trauma from occlusion
When the trauma results from reduced ability of the tissues to resist the occlusal forces. Tissue reaction elicited around a tooth by occlusal forces, with reduced height of periodontium. Injury resulting from normal occlusal forces applied to tooth/teeth with inadequate support.
 
Segregation analysis classic twin study
The study in which, reared together monozygotic and dizygotic twins, are compared to estimate the effects of shared genes. The observed pattern of disease in families is compared with patterns expected under various models of inheritance.
 
Sensitivity
The ability of a test or observation to detect the incidence of disease.
 
Serumal calculus
Calculus formed apical to gingival margin, often brown or black, hard and tenacious.
 
Severe periodontitis
Periodontal destruction is considered severe when 5 mm or more of clinical attachment loss has occurred.33
 
Splint
It is an appliance used for immobilization of injured or diseased parts.
 
Stillman's clefts
These are apostrophe-shaped indentations extending from and into the gingival margin for varying distances on the facial surfaces.
 
Stippling
A form of adaptive specialization or reinforcement to function.
 
Subgingival calculus
It is located below the crest of the marginal gingiva and not visible in routine clinical (serumal calculus) examination.
 
Subgingival curettage
The procedure that is performed apical to the epithelial attachment severing the connective tissue attachment down to the osseous crest.
 
Subgingival plaque
The community of microorganisms that develops on tooth surfaces that are apical to the gingival margin. Subgingival plaque is found below the gingival margin, between the tooth and gingival sulcular tissue.
 
Subclinical gingivitis
The initial response of the gingiva to bacterial plaque is not apparent.
 
Subtraction radiography
It is a technique that facilitates both qualitative and quantitative visualization of even minor density changes in bone by removing the unchanged anatomic structures from the image.34
 
Traumatic occlusion
An occlusion, which causes an injury is called traumatic occlusion.
 
Treatment plan
It is the blueprint for case management. It includes all procedures required for the establishment and maintenance of oral health.
 
Tunnel preparation
A surgical procedure performed on a multirooted tooth, usually a mandibular molar, resulting in a completely opened furcation to provide access for hygiene.
 
Ultrasonic scaler
An instrument vibrating in the ultrasonic range, which accompanied by the stream of water, can be used to remove adherent deposits from teeth.
 
Universal curette
One curette designed for all area and surfaces.
 
Vitalometer
A device that measures the response of a tooth to an electric stimulus to aid in determining pulp vitality.
 
Vertical/angular defects
The defects that occur in an oblique direction, leaving out a hollowed-out trough in the bone alongside the root; the base of the defect is located apical to the surrounding bone.
 
Vincent's angina
It is a fusospirochetal infection of the oropharynx and throat.
 
Xenograft or heterograft
The donor of the graft is from different species from the host.