odontology

American  

[oh-don-tol-uh-jee, od-on-] / ˌoʊ dɒnˈtɒl ə dʒi, ˌɒd ɒn- /

noun

1. the science dealing with the study of the teeth and their surrounding tissues and with the prevention and cure of their diseases.

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odontology British  

/ ɒˌdɒntəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌɒdɒnˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the anatomy, development, and diseases of teeth and related structures

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Other Word Forms

• odontological adjective
• odontologist noun

Etymology

Origin of odontology

First recorded in 1810–20; odonto- + -logy

Example Sentences

That’s what worries Dr. Puriene, the odontology professor in Vilnius.

From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2022

Its free services include forensic odontology and fingerprint examination, as well as forensic anthropology and DNA analyses through the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification laboratories.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2018

Dentistry, and by implication odontology, thus treads a fine line between being fraught and fascinating.

From Nature • May 21, 2018

The odontology board also issued new guidelines that say experts should no longer make identifications but instead limit testimony to including or excluding a person as a potential contributor or declaring results inconclusive.

From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2016

So stick to your teeth and accept my apology For this easy lesson in odontology.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, February 26, 1919 by Various