Table 2.

Periodontal Definitions

Definitions
Alveolar bone height (ABH)	The highest crest of the alveolar bone
Alveolar process	The bony portion of the maxilla and mandible where the teeth are embedded and tooth roots are supported (via a ligamentous attachment called the periodontal ligament). Also includes a thin layer of compact bone which forms the tooth socket
Attachment loss (AL)	Attachment loss (AL) is the extent of periodontal support (bone and tissues) that has been destroyed around a tooth
Bleeding on probing (BOP)	Bleeding on gentle probing within the gingival sulcus is a sign of inflammation
Clinical attachment level (CAL)	The clinical attachment loss (CAL) is the estimated position of the structures that support the tooth as measured with a periodontal probe. The CAL provides the tooth's stability and the loss of bone support. Typically the CAL is measured from a fixed point on a tooth to the base of the periodontal pocket
Gingiva (Gums)	Part of the oral mucosa which covers the alveolar process; the most peripheral component of the periodontium
Gingivitis	Inflammation of the gingival tissues without the involvement of the supporting tissues (bone and periodontal ligament)
Periodontal pocket	A pathologic deepening of the gingival sulcus produced by the destruction of the supporting tissues with an apical migration of the epithelial attachment
Periodontitis	A chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gingival (gums) along with destruction of the supporting structures surrounding the tooth including the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Periodontal pockets form as a result
Pocket depth (PD)	A periodontal pocket depth is measured using a periodontal probe
Sulcus	The space between the gum and the tooth which can be probed and measured and is a site where bacterial plaque can accumulate
Soft tissues of the mouth	Mucosal tissue of the lips, cheeks, palate, the tongue, gums (gingival), and floor of the mouth