Gnathological

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Involving the investigation of the anatomy and mechanics of the jaw in relation to dental health and facial structure
2. Concerning the branch of study that focuses on the structure and function of the jaw in relation to dentistry and facial anatomy
3. Pertaining to the examination of jaw anatomy and its role in dental and facial health

Etymology: "Gnathological" is simply "gnathology" with the adjectival ending "-ical" attached. "Gnathology" is itself built from Greek "gnathos," meaning "jaw," and the suffix "-logy," from "logia," a study or discourse, so the whole word means "the study of the jaw." The adjective describes anything relating to that field, from dental technique to the mechanics of how the upper and lower teeth meet. The "gnatho-" element appears in other scientific coinages as well, such as "gnathic" and "gnathite," which refer to jaw-like structures in animals, so the Greek root has been a convenient building block for specialists working on mouths and jaws. Because the word is a technical formation rather than an old everyday term, it belongs to the vocabulary of dentistry and anatomy and is seldom met outside those fields.