dental

/ˈdɛntl/

/ˈdɛntəl/

Other forms: dentals; dentally

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."

Definitions of dental

1. adjective

   of or relating to the teeth
   “dental floss”
2. adjective

   of or relating to dentistry
   “dental student”
3. noun

   a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue near the gum ridge
   synonyms: alveolar, alveolar consonant, dental consonant

   type of:

   consonant

   a speech sound that is not a vowel