Origins – The Whole Tooth

Orthodontist is built on orthos, straight, correct, plus odontos, tooth.
A periodontist is a gum specialist – the term combines odontos with the prefix peri-, around, surrounding. (As a quick glance in the mirror will tell you, the gums surround the teeth, more or less.) The speciality: periodontics (Per’- i-o-DON’-tiks); the adjective: periodontic (Per’-i-o-DON’-tik).
An endodontist (en’-do-DON’-tist) specializes in work on the pulp of the tooth and in root-canal therapy – the prefix in this term is endo-, from Greek endon, inner, within.
The prefix ex-, out, combines with odontos to form exodontist (eks’-o-DON’-tist).
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