dental

American  

[den-tl] / ˈdɛn tl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the teeth.

2. of or relating to dentistry or a dentist.

3. Phonetics.

   1. (of a speech sound) articulated with the tongue tip touching the back of the upper front teeth or immediately above them, as French t.

   2. alveolar, as English t.

   3. interdental.

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noun

1. Phonetics. a dental sound.

dental British  

/ ˈdɛntəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the teeth

2. of or relating to dentistry

3. phonetics

   1. pronounced or articulated with the tip of the tongue touching the backs of the upper teeth, as for t in French tout

   2. (esp in the phonology of some languages, such as English) another word for alveolar

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noun

1. phonetics a dental consonant

dental Scientific  

/ dĕn′tl /

1. Relating to the teeth.

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Other Word Forms

• dentality noun
• dentally adverb
• postdental adjective

Etymology

Origin of dental

1585–95; < Medieval Latin dentālis, equivalent to Latin dent- (stem of dēns ) tooth + -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

The adjective dental describes things that have something to do with teeth. Dental floss is the waxed string you use to clean between your teeth. A dental hygienist is the dentist's assistant, the one who cleans and polishes your teeth. When your dentist's office calls to remind you about your appointment, they might say, "You have a dental cleaning scheduled for next week." In phonetics, a dental is a sound that's made with your tongue touching your top teeth, like th-. In Middle French, dental means "of teeth," from the Latin dens, "tooth."

Example Sentences

“Grantors often direct the trustee to distribute funds only when certain needs arise. Those needs include “medical or dental care, tuition and job training, basic living costs like housing or groceries if desired.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

At an event in Glasgow, co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer announced plans to make bus travel and dental treatment free for everyone in Scotland, expand funded childcare and deliver 40,000 new green energy jobs.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Researchers say CANECPI-5 is especially promising because it both protects enamel and helps regulate oral bacteria, making it valuable for future dental treatments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

"When I make it to a cafe table, even for a few minutes, I can almost believe the world hasn't ended," said Fatemeh, 27, a dental assistant.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Helena smiles, then smiles bigger, and when I come home from work the next evening, her brown head is next to Max’s dark one, poring over a dental textbook.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron