-odont

The combining form -odont is used like a suffix meaning “having teeth.” It is used in some scientific terms, especially in zoology.

The form odonto- ultimately comes from the Greek odṓn, meaning “tooth.” The Latin word for “tooth” is dēns, source of the combining forms denti- and dento-.

What are variants of –odont?

In some cases, particularly in the names of genera from zoology, a variant of -odont is -odus, as in ceratodus.

A corresponding form of -odont combined to the beginning of words is odonto-, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use article for the form.

One example of a word you may be familiar with that features the combining form –odont is orthodontics, “the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention and correction of irregular teeth, as by means of braces.”

The combining form orth- means “straight” or “correct.” As we know, -odont, means “having teeth.” The final part of the word, -ics, is a suffix that denotes a body of knowledge. So, orthodontics literally translates to “knowledge of correcting teeth.”

Periodontics is “the branch of dentistry dealing with the study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium.” The perionditum is the bone, connective tissue, and gum surrounding and supporting a tooth. Periodontics is formed in the same way as orthodontics, but featuring the combining form peri-, meaning “around, near, surrounding,” here referring to the parts of the body immediately surrounding teeth.

What are some words that use the combining form -odont?

• brachyodont
• dendrodont
• gymnodont
• heterodont
• homodont
• macrodont
• megadont
• microdont

What are some other forms that -odont may be commonly confused with?

• -odynia
• dendro-
• odyno-
• onto-

The combining form micro- (micr- before vowels) means “small.” What kind of teeth does an organism described as microdont have?