dental

1 of 2

adjective

den·​tal ˈden-tᵊl 

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

ˈden-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

dental

2 of 2

noun

: a dental consonant

Examples of dental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2003, Colorado researchers found that the state saved $149 million in dental treatment costs by fluoridating water, the story said. —Sammy Fretwell The State, Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2025

In 2025, more than 1,000 international patients received dental treatments. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025

In the caption of the post — which also included a snapshot of the entire family of six posing with Mickey and Minnie Mouse — the mom of four nodded to her dental mishap, which was remedied before the outing. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025

New employees would have their vision and dental benefits start after 90 days instead of after 15 months of employment under the agreement. —Cbs News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

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

Phrases Containing dental

• dental floss
• dental hygienist
• dental records
• dental school
• dental technician

Rhymes for dental

• ental
• gentle
• lentil
• mental
• rental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental

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 

1

: relating to, specializing in, or used in dentistry

dental surgery

dental students

2

: relating to or used on the teeth

dental paste

dentally

-ē 

adverb