peri-

(Greek: around, enclosing, surrounding, about, near, close; often used as a prefix)

periodontal
1. Relating to or involving or practicing periodontics; literally, around the tooth.
2. A reference to or affecting tissues and structures surrounding and supporting the teeth.

Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth. Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss.

The main cause of periodontal disease is a bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on teeth.

periodontia
The branch of dentistry dealing with diseases of the gums and other structures around the teeth.
periodontical
Relating to or involving or practicing periodontics.
periodontics (s)
The branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
periodontist (s), periodontists (pl)
A specialist in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.
periodontitis
Inflammation around the tooth or teeth.

Periodontitis and all periodontal diseases are bacterial infections that destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth in the mouth.

Left untreated, these diseases can lead to tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is a bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on teeth.

periodontology
The branch of dentistry that deals with the scientific study of the structures and functions of the periodontium in health and disease; broader in scope than periodontics, which is limited to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease, although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
perionychium (s), perionychia (pl)
1. The tissue surrounding the nail, whether it be a fingernail or a toenail, including the tissue bordering the root and sides of the nail.
2. The border of epidermal tissue surrounding a fingernail or toenail.
periophthalmia, periophthalmitis
Inflammation of the connective tissues around the eyes.
perioptic
Tissues surrounding the eyeball.
periorbital
1. Situated around the orbit of the eye.
2. Of, relating to, or characterizing the periorbit.
3. Of, relating to, occurring in, or being the tissues surrounding or lining the orbit of the eye; as with periorbital edema.
periorchitis
Inflammation of the tunica vaginalis testis.
periosteal
1. Pertaining to the periosteum, a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone, except the bone of articulating surfaces in joints which are covered by synovial membranes.
2. Situated around bone.
periosteoma, periostoma
A benign tumor arising from the periosteum, the dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps (invests) all bone (except the articular surfaces of bone in joints which are covered by synovial membranes).
periosteotomy, periostotomy
The operating on or cutting through the periosteum to the bone.

Related "around, round, surrounding" units: ambi-; ampho-; circ-; circum-; cyclo-, -cycle; gyro-.