dentistry

American  

[den-tuh-stree] / ˈdɛn tə stri /

noun

1. the profession or science dealing with the prevention and treatment of diseases and malformations of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity, and the removal, correction, and replacement of decayed, damaged, or lost parts, including such operations as the filling and crowning of teeth, the straightening of teeth, and the construction of artificial dentures.

---

dentistry British  

/ ˈdɛntɪstrɪ /

noun

1. the branch of medical science concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth and gums

---

dentistry Scientific  

/ dĕn′tĭ-strē /

1. The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, gums, and other structures of the mouth.

---

Etymology

Origin of dentistry

First recorded in 1830–40; dentist + -ry

Example Sentences

Governments in all four UK nations are increasing investment in NHS dentistry and making changes to dental contracts in the hope of giving people more choice.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Together, these insights are shaping a growing subfield known as evolutionary dentistry, using our evolutionary past to understand the dental problems of the present.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

These are very common in modern dentistry and often linked to tooth grinding, forceful brushing, or acidic drinks.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

Starting in July, graduate students attending professional programs, including for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, will be able to borrow a maximum of $200,000 over the course of their degree.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

That year, a young dentistry student named Walter Noel presented to his doctor in Chicago with an acute anemic crisis, accompanied by the characteristic chest and bone pain.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee