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
Policies generally don't cover routine dental or vision care, hearing aids, private-duty nursing or long-term care. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Someone with healthy teeth got veneers to fix something minor, like a chip or a gap, and is now dealing with anxiety about the long-term maintenance and costs of their permanent dental decision. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 7 Aug. 2026 This includes medical, dental, women's health, mental health services, any needed follow-up medical appointments, as well as 24-hour emergency care. — Laura Romero, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 On the flip side, people with diabetes also have a higher risk of gum disease and dental problems. — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 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

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