Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to dentistry or the profession of a dentist: Pertaining to the field of dental medicine, which involves the care and treatment of teeth and gums.
   • Relating to the teeth: Concerning the teeth themselves, their structure, health, or care.

2. Noun:

   • (Phonetics) A consonant sound: A speech sound made with the tip of the tongue against or near the upper front teeth or the alveolar ridge (the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She is a dental student, studying to become a dentist.
  • Regular dental check-ups are important for oral health.
  • The patient needed extensive dental work, including a crown and a filling.

• Noun (Phonetics):

  • The sounds /t/, /d/, /n/, and /l/ are examples of dentals in English.
  • In some languages, dentals are articulated with the tongue tip directly on the teeth.

Advanced Usage

• "Dental care": The practice of maintaining the health of one's teeth and gums.
  • Proper dental care includes brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleanings.
• "Dental records": Detailed charts, X-rays, or molds of a person's teeth, often used for identification.
  • The victim was identified using his dental records.

Variants and Related Words

• Dentist (n): A healthcare professional qualified to practice dentistry.
  • You should visit the dentist twice a year.
• Dentistry (n): The medical science and profession concerned with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
  • He chose a career in dentistry.
• Dental hygienist (n): A licensed professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques like teeth cleaning.
  • The dental hygienist performed the cleaning before the dentist's examination.

Synonyms

• Adjective (relating to teeth): Odontic (technical), tooth-related.
• Noun (phonetics): Alveolar (when articulated on the gum ridge; a closely related category).

Related Phrases

• Dental floss (n): A thin thread used to remove food and dental plaque from between teeth.
  • She uses dental floss every night.
• Dental plaque (n): A sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth.
  • Brushing helps remove dental plaque.
• Dental implant (n): A surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw to support a dental prosthesis like a crown or bridge.
  • After losing a tooth, he opted for a dental implant.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most common use of "dental" is as an adjective relating to teeth or dentistry.
• Its use as a noun is specialized and primarily confined to the field of phonetics and linguistics. In everyday conversation, "dental" is almost always an adjective.

Adjective

1. of or relating to dentistry
   • dental student
2. of or relating to the teeth
   • dental floss

Noun

1. a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue near the gum ridge