Gomphiasis

/ɡɒmˈfaɪəsɪs/ noun

Definition

A disease or abnormal condition affecting the teeth or their sockets.

Etymology

From Greek gomph- meaning 'bolt' or 'nail' (from the teeth anchoring in sockets like bolts) plus -iasis, a medical suffix indicating disease or condition.

Kelly Says

The word gomphiasis is nearly extinct in modern dentistry, replaced by more specific terms, but its Greek root gomph- survives in dozens of dental and anatomical terms that dentists use every day.

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