# dental

/ˈdɛnəɫ/ (US) · /dˈɛntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dental
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relating to teeth

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to your teeth or the care of your teeth.

For teachers: relating to the teeth or the medical practice of dentistry.

- You should go for a dental check-up at least once a year.
- The government introduced a new subsidy to help low-income families afford essential dental treatment and preventative care.

### 2. linguistics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describes a sound made by touching your tongue against your upper teeth.

For teachers: describing a consonant articulated with the tip or blade of the tongue against the upper front teeth.

- The 'th' sound in English is a dental consonant.
- In many languages, dental consonants are distinguished from alveolar ones by the precise point of contact between the tongue and the upper teeth.

Usage: Used in phonetics to describe sounds like the 'th' in 'thin'.

### 3. animal tooth cleaning

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a professional cleaning of an animal's teeth by a vet.

For teachers: a procedure involving the cleaning, scaling, and polishing of an animal's teeth, typically performed under anaesthesia.

- The vet recommended a dental for the dog to prevent gum disease.
- The cat required a full dental after the veterinarian discovered significant tartar buildup and several fractured premolars during the annual exam.

## Examples

- You should go for a dental check-up every six months.
- The company offers a comprehensive dental plan that covers cleanings, fillings, and major surgeries.
- Advancements in dental technology have made procedures like root canals significantly less painful than they were in previous decades.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.