Glossary

Category: P

  • Petechiae (petechial haemorrhages)

    Petechiae (petechial haemorrhages)

    Red or purple purpuric eruptions measuring <3 mm in diameter each, occurring from minor hemorrhage of skin or mucous membrane. Small, pinpoint bleeding under the skin; one of the signs of scurvy. A small, reddish or purplish pinpoint spot on a body surface, such as the skin or mucous membranes, caused by a minute hemorrhage.…

  • Pernicious

    Capable of damaging or destroying body tissues. Tending to be fatal. Harmful or dangerous, or unusually severe and likely to end in death. Adjective that describes a fatal (usually) disease. Dangerous or likely to lead to death, as a pernicious disease. A harmful, destructive, or fatal condition. Describing diseases that are highly dangerous or likely…

  • Permucosal seal

    Junctional epithelium that separates the connective tissues from the outside environment around a dental implant.  

  • Permucosal

    Occurring, passed, performed, or effected through the mucosa.  

  • Permanent dentition

    The adult or second set of teeth that remain after childhood. The 32 permanent teeth, which begin to erupt at about 6 years of age in people. These are completed by the 16th year with the exception of third molars, which appear between the 18th and 25th years. The incisors are followed by the bicuspids…

  • Perleche

    Perleche

    An inflammatory process at the corners of the mouth. More commonly known as angular cheilitis. Often caused by fungal or bacterial infection and can be concomitant with decreased occlusal vertical dimension. Inflammation, with small cracks, at the corners of the mouth, caused by infection, poor diet, or producing too much saliva. Dryness and cracking of…

  • Periradicular

    Around or surrounding a tooth root. Around a root or a rootlike process, especially relating to a tooth.  

  • Peripheral ossifying fibroma

    Gingival growth which arises from the periosteum or superficial periodontal ligament and may be pedunculated or sessile.  

  • Periotome

    An instrument used to separate the periodontal ligament fibers in an effort to extract a tooth with minimal trauma and/or loss of alveolar bone.  

  • Periotest

    Instrument used to measure the relative mobility of teeth and dental implants. Device utilizes a tapping piston to percuss a tooth or an implant four times per second. Rate of deceleration recorded at the point of contact is measured as the relative stiffness of the tooth or implant. Periotest values range from ‐08 to +50,…