Periodontium
Pronunciation: peh-ree-oh-DON-shee-um
The collective term for the supporting structures of the tooth, comprising the gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone.
Full Definition
The periodontium refers to the four specialized tissues that surround and support the teeth: the gingiva (gum tissue), the periodontal ligament (connective tissue fibres attaching tooth to bone), cementum (the calcified layer covering the tooth root), and alveolar bone (the jaw bone housing the tooth socket). Editors must retain the full term when it appears in clinical or research documents, as abbreviating or substituting it with 'gum tissue' alone is inaccurate. The term is derived from the Greek 'peri' (around) and 'odous' (tooth). It appears frequently in periodontal diagnosis, treatment planning, and histological descriptions.
Usage
Usage note: Always used as a singular collective noun; do not pluralise in standard clinical writing.
In Context
- "Destruction of the periodontium is the hallmark finding in advanced periodontal disease." — Clinical case report
- "Histological sections revealed regeneration of all four components of the periodontium following guided tissue regeneration." — Research journal article