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
ˈden-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce dental (audio)
adverb

dental

2 of 2

noun

: a dental consonant

Examples of dental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
As with any of life’s tasks—from landscaping to dental hygiene—the trick isn’t knowing how to do everything. — Bydoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 July 2026 Everything so far has happened in animal models, so there’s no version of this available in a dental office yet. — Allison Palmer july 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026 There were tens of thousands of dollars sent to him, the complaint alleges, for things like dental work, a pickup truck, a motorcycle and to fund a legitimate social media career and future together. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Regular dental checkups and early treatment of gum disease double as brain and cardiovascular maintenance, not just cavity prevention. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026 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

Phrases Containing dental

Rhymes for dental

See All Rhymes for dental

Browse Nearby Words

Dent
dental
dentale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dental. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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
-ē How to pronounce dental (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dental

Nglish: Translation of dental for Spanish Speakers

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