Adult periodontitis: beyond age 35, onset slow.

Allograft: taking a graft from individuals of the same species.

Alloplastic graft: made up of synthetic substances.

Alveolar process: bone surrounding the teeth.

Anaesthesia: drug to block off any pain impulses from the nerves.

Antibiotics: medication to fight off bacteria causing infection.

Asepsis: steril stimulation of the surroundings and instruments to prevent infections.

Autograft: taking from your own body a graft.

Calculus: hardened plaque.

Composite graft: a combination of autograft and allograft or alloplastic graft.

Crown lengthening: providing more tooth structure by slightly taking away the bone and gingiva.

Curettage: detoxifying the root surface from plaque.

Dehiscence: cleft like absence of bone which denudes the root surface.

Fenestration: circumscribed defect in the bone exposing part of the root.

Flap: reflection of the gingival tissue .

Frenectomy: cutting the frenum.

Frenum: the stretched out tissue when lifting your tongue or lifting your upper lip.

Gingival graft: taking a piece of gingiva harvested usually from the palate to a place needing it.

Gingival sulcus: the space between the tooth and the gingiva.

Gingival enlargement: unusual growth of the gingiva due to drugs, pregnancy or other causes.

Gingivectomy: excision of the gingiva.

Gingivitis: inflammation of the gingiva (bleeding gums).

Gingivoplasty: esthetically recontouring the gingiva.

Graft: a piece of tissue taken from one area and placed at another.

Implant: a substitute for a lost tooth. It functions as additional support, most often providing the very important option of esthetics, non removable rather than removable tooth replacement. Implants are fabricated from body compatible bio-materials, most often titanium or one of its alloys. It can vary in shape from a blade-like shape to a screw type.

Junctional epithelium: the tissue directly hugging the tooth, inside the sulcus (not visible).

Juvenile periodontitis: adolescent, onset at puberty.

Occlusal guard: appliance used to prevent grinding (nightguard).

Occlusal analysis: slight reshaping of all teeth for the proper interlocking of teeth when biting.

Osteoplasty: esthetically recontouring the bone.

Periodontal pocket: enlargement of the gingival sulcus.

Periodontal ligament: Small attachments between the tooth and the bone surrounding the tooth.

Periodontitis: inflammation of the bone (bone loss).

Periodontium: gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, alveolar process and junctional epithelium.

Plaque: dead cells, blood cells, food particles and bacterial residues.

Root planning: scraping of root below the gums.

Scaling: scraping of the tooth above the gums.

Splint: appliance used to stabilize loose teeth.

Sutures: stitches.