dental

1 of 2

adjective

den·​tal ˈden-tᵊl How to pronounce dental (audio)
1
: of or relating to the teeth or dentistry
2
: articulated with the tip or blade of the tongue against or near the upper front teeth
dentally adverb

dental

2 of 2

noun

: a dental consonant

Examples of dental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
When consumed regularly, this can contribute to dental erosion, where the outer protective layer of enamel is gradually worn away.14 Gatorade now offers a Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher, which has no sugar but the same amount of electrolytes as the original. Lindsey Desoto, Health, 1 July 2025 Back then, current prominent conservative activist Riley Gaines was just a dental student who had to settle for a tie with Thomas in one of the NCAA championship events. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025 Untreated tooth decay and cavities can lead to dental abscesses, or infections that can lead to serious problems requiring emergency room visits. Kairi Lowery, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025 Though too much fluoride can cause problems, the levels in drinking water and dental products are carefully regulated and monitored to keep you and your family safe. Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dental

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin dentalis, from dent-, dens

First Known Use

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dental was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“Dental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dental. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

dental

adjective
den·​tal
ˈdent-ᵊl
: of or relating to the teeth or dentistry
Etymology

Adjective

from Latin dentalis "relating to the teeth," from dent-, dens "tooth" — related to dandelion, indent, trident

Medical Definition

dental

adjective
den·​tal ˈdent-ᵊl How to pronounce dental (audio)
1
: relating to, specializing in, or used in dentistry
dental surgery
dental students
2
: relating to or used on the teeth
dental paste
dentally adverb

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