pyorrhea
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A chronic inflammatory disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth (periodontitis), often characterized by pus formation and loosening of the teeth.
- A discharge of pus.
Usage
- The term "pyorrhea" is a medical term, specifically used in dentistry and pathology. It describes a severe condition affecting the gums and bone supporting the teeth.
- It is often used in its full form "pyorrhea alveolaris" to specify the dental disease.
Examples
- Noun:
- Untreated gingivitis can progress to pyorrhea, leading to tooth loss.
- The dentist diagnosed advanced pyorrhea due to the significant bone loss visible on the X-ray.
- A symptom of the infection was a persistent pyorrhea from the gums.
Advanced Usage
- "Pyorrhea alveolaris": The full medical term for the dental disease, emphasizing the involvement of the tooth sockets (alveoli).
- In the early 20th century, pyorrhea alveolaris was a leading cause of tooth extraction.
Variants and Related Words
- Pyorrhoea: The British English spelling variant.
- Periodontitis: The more modern clinical term for the inflammatory disease, often used interchangeably with "pyorrhea" in a general sense.
- Gingivitis: A milder, earlier form of gum inflammation that may precede pyorrhea.
- Purulent (adj): Containing or discharging pus (e.g., a discharge).
Synonyms
- Periodontitis (for the dental condition)
- Purulent discharge (for the symptom of pus)
- Riggs' disease (an older, eponymous term for the condition)
Notes on Meaning
- The primary modern understanding of "pyorrhea" is as a severe form of periodontal disease. Its second meaning, a simple discharge of pus, is more general but less commonly used in everyday language outside of specific medical descriptions. The word itself comes from Greek: (pus) + (flow).
Noun
- chronic periodontitis; purulent inflammation of the teeth sockets
- discharge of pus