Periodontics is the treatment of diseases of your gums. More specifically, it’s the specialty of dentistry which encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth and the maintenance of the health, function and esthetics of these structures and tissues.

 ALVEOLAR BONE - Bony wall of the alveolus, comprising a relatively thin perforated plate adjacent to the root (see Lamina dura). It Consists of cancellous bone (with Sharpey's fibers forming bundle bone), except where the socket involves lamellated bone as part of the cortical plate. It is a portion of the alveolar process.

ALVEOLAR CREST- The margin of the alveolar process terminating against the contours of the cemento-enamel junction.

ALVEOLAR MUCOSA - The mucosa covering the alveolar process but excluding the gingiva. It extends from the mucogingival junction into the vestibule on the labiobuccal side or the floor of the mouth on the lingual side.

ALVEOLAR SEPTUM - That part of the alveolar process that separates individual alveoli.

ALVEOLUS - The socket in the bone in which the teeth are attached by means of the periodontal ligament.

APICAL - Towards the apex (or root tip) of the tooth.

ATTACHMENT APPARATUS - Consisting of cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.

CEMENTOBLAST - A specialized cell which forms cementum.

CEMENTICLE- Calcified body of the periodontal ligament.

CEMENTO-ENAMEL JUNCTION - The boundary between enamel and cementum of the root.

CEMENTOID - An uncalcified matrix of cementum.

CEMENTUM - Mineralized connective tissue covering the external surface of the root(s) of the teeth.

CERVICAL - Pertaining to the neck of the tooth.

CONNECTIVE TISSUE ATTACHMENT - The insertion of connective tissue fibers of gingiva and the periodontal ligament into root cementum.

CORONAL -- Directed toward the crown of the tooth.

CONCRESENCE - The growing together of two teeth through the fusion of their root cementum

DEHISCENCE - Incomplete coverage by bone over an area of a root. A condition in which the buccal (cheek side) aspect of the root of a tooth is without a portion of its cervical bony covering.

DENTINOCEMENTAL JUNCTION - The junction of dentin and root cementum.

DENTOGINGIVAL JUNCTION - Interface between the gingival tissues and that portion of the tooth that is covered by gingival tissues.

EPITHELIAN ATTACHMENT - The biological mechanism uniting epithelial cells of the junctional epithelium to the tooth surface.

FENESTRATION - Incomplete coverage by bone of a root of a tooth, below the level of the intact alveolar crest (see also Dehiscence)

FURCATION (FURCA) - The anatomical area of a multi rooted tooth where the roots divide. There are bifurcations and trifurcations, depending on the number of roots

GINGIVA - A combination of epithelial and connective tissues that surrounds and is attached to the tooth and alveolar process and extends to the mucogingival junction.

INTERDENTAL GINGIVA - That portion of the gingiva between adjacent teeth. It comprises the vestibular and oral papillae and the interdental cal

JUNCTIONAL EPITHELIUM - The epithelial collar that provides the epithelial attachment to the tooth surface continuous with but structurally distinct from the sulcal epithelium

SULCULAR EPITHELIUM (CREVICULAR EPITHELIUM) - The epithelial lining of the gingival sulcus, extending from the gingival margin to the junctional epithelium

GINGIVAL FLUID (CREVICULAR FLUID) - An inflammatory product that leaks from gingival vessels exhibiting pathologically increased permeability.

GINGIVAL GROOVE - A shallow V-shaped groove on the gingival surface that runs parallel to and at a distance of 0.5- 1.5mm from the gingival margin.

GINGIVAL MARGIN - The line of gingival tissues representing the junction of oral gingival and sulcal (or junctional) epithelium. This is the line of gingival tissue closest to the occlusal plane.

GINGIVAL PAPILLA - That portion of gingiva which occupies the part of the interproximal spaces between contacting teeth, i.e., part of the interdental gingiva.

GINGIVAL POCKET - A pocket that does not extend beyond the realm of the gingival tissues and may not be associated with bone loss

GINGIVAL SULCUS - The shallow groove between the tooth and the most coronal (top most) part of the gingiva, extending from the free surface of the junctional epithelium (bottom of sulcus) to the gingival margin.

INTERALVEOLAR - The space between alveoli

INTERALVEOLAR CREST - The coronal (top) edge of interdental bone

INTERALVEOLAR BONE - The part of the alveolar process located between individual alveoli

INTERALVEOLAR SEPTUM - That portion of the alveolar process which lies between the roots of adjoining teeth

INTERDENTAL BONE - The area of the alveolar process located between two adjacent teeth in the same arch

INTERDENTAL COL - The cal-shaped interdental gingiva between the interdental papillae and apical to the contact area of adjacent teeth

INTERDENTAL PAPILLA - The elevated portions of the gingival tissues of the embrasure area between contacting teeth

INTERRADICULAR - The space between the roots of a multirooted tooth

INTERRADICULAR BONE - The area of the alveolar bone located between the roots of a multi-rooted tooth.

MUCOGINGIVAL JUNCTION - Clinically, it is the line between the gingiva and the alveolar mucosa.

NEW ATTACHMENT - Or peridontal regeneration

PERIAPEX - Tissues which surrounding the root apex (i.e., the periapical periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.)

PERIAPICAL - Relating to the space around the apex of a tooth root

PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT - Dense connective tissue enveloping the roots of teeth, located between cementum and alveolar bone

PERIODONTAL POCKET - A periodontal condition diagnosed when the depth from the gingival margin, on gentle probing, exceeds 3 mm

PERIODONTAL PROBING - The insertion of a periodontal probe, with gentle pressure, between the tooth and the gingiva; the measurement of the distance of insertion.

PERIODONTAL REGENERATION - Restoration of the architecture and function in healing periodontal tissues

PERIODONTIUM - Combination of several tissues that support the teeth, including the gingiva, the cementum, the periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone

REGENERATION - Structural and functional reestablishment of tissues following a pathological process

ROOT - That portion of a tooth which is covered with cementum.

STIPPLING - Small pinpoint depressions on the surface of adult gingiva, except for the surface approximately 1 mm wide adjacent to the gingival margin

TOOTH MIGRATION - Physiological drift of a tooth

TOOTH REPLANTATION -  The replacement of a totally luxated or avulsed tooth in its socket

TRANSSEPTAL FIBERS - Collagen fibers crossing from one adjoining tooth to another