Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
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gingivitis
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gingivitis gin·gi·vi·tis (jĭn'jə-vī'tĭs)
n.
Inflammation of the gums, characterized by redness and swelling.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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gingivitis  (jĭn'jə-vī'tĭs) Pronunciation Key
Inflammation of the gums, characterized by redness and swelling. |
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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gingivitis
inflammation of the gums (gingivae). Symptoms include tender, sometimes swollen, gums that bleed easily. Areas of tissue destruction (necrosis) or ulceration may develop, and fever and halitosis may be present in severe disease. The most common cause of gingivitis is the accumulation of dental plaque on exposed tooth surfaces. The form of gingivitis known as trench mouth (Vincent's gingivitis) is believed to be caused by a spirochete, Borrelia, and a bacterium, Fusobacterium, acting in symbiosis on previously weakened gum tissue. General infections, poor tooth alignment (malocclusion), poor dental hygiene, and faulty dentures are other causes of gingivitis. In some cases, gingivitis occurs as a result of another disease, such as diabetes mellitus, leukemia or similar blood dyscrasias, or vitamin deficiency
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