English Reference

Word

dentistry

Phoneticsden·tistry

US/ˈdɛnɪstɹi/

UK/dˈɛntɪstɹi/

Definitions

01medical field

B2 · Medicine

n. the medical study and treatment of teeth and the mouth.

n. the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the teeth and oral cavity.

“Advances in modern dentistry mean that most procedures are now painless.”

“The university's department of dentistry is renowned for its research into regenerative treatments for gum disease.”

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the profession or field of study.

Synonyms

dental medicine

02dental work

B2 · Medicine

n. the actual work done on your teeth, like fillings or cleaning.

n. the practical application of dental procedures, such as restorative work, surgery, or cosmetic enhancements.

“He had a lot of dentistry done last year, including two new fillings.”

“Extensive restorative dentistry was required to repair the damage caused by years of neglect and poor oral hygiene.”

Usage

Often used to refer to the collective procedures performed on a patient.

Synonyms

dental worktreatment

Real-World Examples

“I sn’t it weird that dentistry and medicine have been kept largely separate?”
The Guardian · 11 May 2026

Etymology

From dentist + -ry.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

dentalAdjectivedentistryNoun

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference