periodontal

adjective

peri·odon·tal ˌper-ē-ō-ˈdän-tᵊl

: investing or surrounding a tooth

: of or affecting periodontal tissues or regions

periodontal diseases

periodontally

ˌper-ē-ō-ˈdän-tᵊl-ē

adverb

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Dentists and Periodontal Problems

In dentistry, cavities are important but they aren't the whole story; what happens to your gums is every bit as vital to your dental health. When you don't floss regularly to keep plaque from forming on your teeth and gums, the gums will slowly deteriorate. Dentists called periodontists specialize in the treatment of periodontal problems, and when the gums have broken down to the point where they can't hold the teeth in place a periodontist may need to provide dental implants, a costly and unpleasant process. But even a periodontist can't keep your gums healthy; that job is up to you.

Examples of periodontal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The software helps dentists deal with routine procedures, such as identifying cavities, as well as spot more serious conditions, including periodontal disease, or bone loss within the mouth often linked with diseases like diabetes or Alzheimer's. —

Sanvi Bangalore, CBS News, 21 July 2023 In fact, periodontal disease is distressingly common in our furry friends. —

Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2023 The factors researchers used to measure aging included body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, blood tests, hormones for appetite regulation and fat storage, blood pressure, cholesterol, tooth decay, periodontal disease, cardiorespiratory fitness, and brain MRIs. —

Kristen Rogers, CNN, 28 Feb. 2022 One of those health issues is gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. —

Amanda MacMillan, Health, 9 Mar. 2023 The most critical ailments were paralysis, heart murmur, corneal ulcers, worms, enlarged prostate, severe periodontal disease, ear infections, and a UTI. —

Tracey Harrington McCoy, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2023 Additionally, sea moss contains anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce the risk of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022 D’Alégre suffered from periodontal disease, which inflames the gums and bone surrounding the teeth, in some cases leading them to loosen or fall out. —

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2023 His mouth also didn’t have any evidence of tooth loss, dental caries, or periodontal disease. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'periodontal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.