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
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
The dental clinic is located at 1321 Sunshine Ave., Leesburg, in partnership with St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and St. Luke, 722 S. Grove St., Eustis, operates in partnership with St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church. Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025 Families will learn more about bike and helmet safety, child passenger safety, stranger danger, pediatric dental care, fire safety, the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program, breastfeeding and water safety. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025 The crowdsourced effort, organized by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, will be used to pay for medical and dental care, counseling and therapy for physical and emotional recovery, housing and daily living expenses and support for legal fees, the nonprofit said. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2025 Community health center opens dental clinic TrueCare, a nonprofit community health center, opened a dental clinic at their Vista Way Health Center, 3998 Vista Way. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on dental

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