Furcation Involvement
Pronunciation: fur-KAY-shun
The clinical term for the extension of periodontal disease into the area between the roots of a multi-rooted tooth, classified by severity.
Full Definition
Furcation involvement describes the loss of periodontal support in the interradicular (between-root) region of molars and premolars, and is a key clinical and radiographic finding in advanced periodontal disease research. It is most commonly classified using the Hamp, Nyman, and Lindhe classification system (Class I, II, or III) or the Glickman classification (Grade I–IV). In dental research publications, editors must verify that the classification system cited matches the numerical or Roman numeral grades described in the results. The term 'furcation' should not be written as 'bifurcation' unless referring specifically to a two-rooted tooth. Furcation involvement is an important prognostic variable in longitudinal periodontal studies.
Usage
Usage note: Do not substitute 'bifurcation' as a generic synonym; reserve it for contexts referring specifically to two-rooted teeth. Roman numerals are used for the Hamp classification; Arabic numerals for Glickman—verify which system is in use before editing.
In Context
- "Class II furcation involvement was recorded in 34% of maxillary molars at baseline." — Periodontal case series, clinical findings
- "The manuscript inconsistently uses both 'furcation involvement' and 'furcation defect'—please standardize to the preferred term throughout." — Copy-editor's query to author