Furcation Involvement
Pronunciation: fur-KAY-shun
The extension of periodontal disease into the branching area between the roots of a multi-rooted tooth, classified by severity.
Full Definition
Furcation involvement refers to the destruction of periodontal supporting structures in the furcation region—the anatomical area where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth diverge from the trunk of the tooth. It is classified by the Glickman or Hamp classification systems: Class I (incipient, probe enters less than 3 mm), Class II (cul-de-sac, probe enters more than 3 mm but does not pass through), and Class III (through-and-through, probe passes completely through the furcation). Furcation involvement is a critical finding that affects prognosis and treatment planning. Editors must render 'furcation' correctly—not 'bifurcation' for all multi-rooted teeth—since 'bifurcation' applies only to two-rooted teeth, while 'trifurcation' applies to three-rooted teeth.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'bifurcation' only for two-rooted teeth and 'trifurcation' for three-rooted teeth. 'Furcation involvement' is the umbrella clinical term and is preferred in charting and records unless specifying root anatomy.
In Context
- "Class II furcation involvement was detected on the buccal aspect of tooth #19 during periodontal charting." — Periodontal chart note
- "The case report described Class III furcation involvement of the maxillary first molar, necessitating extraction." — Dental case report