Periodontic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to the structures around a tooth, such as the gums and bone that support it ; a dentist who specializes in treating diseases of those supporting tissues
2. Of or concerning the tissues that surround and anchor the teeth ; a dental professional focused on the care and treatment of gum disorders
3. Describing the area around the teeth including the gums and ligaments ; a practitioner who diagnoses and treats illnesses affecting those supporting structures

Etymology: "Periodontic" is a near-synonym of "periodontal," and both are built from the same two Ancient Greek parts: "perí," meaning "around," and "odoús," meaning "a tooth." Put together, the literal sense is something like "around the tooth," which is exactly where the gum tissue sits, wrapping the base of each tooth and holding it in place. The Greek elements were not used together in antiquity for this purpose. The compound is a modern scientific formation, assembled from classical roots to name the structures around the teeth, in the same way that many medical and anatomical terms were coined in later centuries. The ancient Greeks had the building blocks but never this particular word.

Synonyms: periodontal