periodontosis Dentistry.
(ˌpɛrɪəʊdɒnˈtəʊsɪs)
[f. as periodontia + -osis.]
A periodontal disorder; spec. one in which there is a loss of alveolar bone, leading to displacement or loosening of teeth, without inflammation.
| 1936 Dunning & Davenport Dict. Dental Sci. 422/2 Periodontosis, a diseased condition of the periodontal membrane. 1942 Orban & Weinmann in Jrnl. Periodontology XIII. 31 (heading) Diffuse atrophy of the alveolar bone (periodontosis). 1962 Blake & Trott Periodontology iii. 28 Incidence of periodontal associated with alveolar bone destruction and pocket formation. This type of disease has been divided into chronic periodontitis.., which is inflammatory, and periodontosis.., which is principally degenerative. Periodontosis is often complicated by inflammation and the condition is then called periodontitis complex. 1975 J. D. Manson Periodontics (ed. 3) xviii. 222 (heading) Juvenile periodontitis (‘periodontosis’). Ibid., Orban and Weinmann (1942) coined the term ‘periodontosis’ believing that the condition represented a degeneration of the periodontal ligament. However, there is no evidence for that belief. |