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

For example, Myers said a puppy has different nutritional, behavioral and preventive healthcare needs from an adult, whose needs are focused on maintaining a healthy body and muscle condition, dental health and early detection of disease. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

The tests included dental examinations, the heart, lungs, and nervous system, as well as blood tests. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Plenty of dental issues can feel like no big deal, at least at first. — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2026

The full receipts on this $499 investment are still forthcoming, so stay tuned for Allure's deep-dive review (with input from dental professionals) now that the CameraJet is out of the bag. — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026

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