Intrabony Defect
Pronunciation: in-truh-BOH-nee
A periodontal bone defect in which the base of the defect lies apical to the surrounding alveolar crest, extending into the alveolar bone.
Full Definition
An intrabony defect (also termed infrabony or intraosseous defect) is characterised by angular bone loss that extends below the level of the adjacent alveolar crest, creating a pocket whose base is located within the bone rather than coronal to it. Defects are classified by the number of remaining bony walls (one-, two-, or three-wall configurations), which influences regenerative prognosis. Three-wall defects carry the best regenerative potential. Editors should note variant spellings: 'intrabony', 'infrabony', and 'intraosseous' are all used in the literature; verify the journal's preferred spelling.
Usage
Usage note: Three accepted spellings exist: intrabony, infrabony, intraosseous. Standardize within a document. 'Intrabony' is the AAP-preferred form.
In Context
- "The cone-beam CT revealed a three-wall intrabony defect of 6 mm on the mesial of the upper left first molar." — Radiographic report
- "The paper uses 'infrabony' and 'intrabony' interchangeably; the editor should standardize to one spelling throughout." — Copyediting note