Origin: Latin suffix -al
Dental has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:
a consonant articulated with the tip of the tongue near the gum ridge
"In his linguistics class, the professor explained that words like "th" are dental because they are produced by placing the tongue's tip against the upper gum ridge."
Cleaning and polishing of an animal's teeth.
"The vet performed a thorough dental cleaning on my dog to remove the tartar buildup from his teeth."
"She paid her dental bill at the end of the month."
Usage: Although "dental" is primarily an adjective describing things related to teeth, it is occasionally used as a noun in veterinary contexts to refer specifically to the cleaning and polishing of an animal's teeth. In everyday human usage, however, this noun form is incorrect; you should use terms like "cleaning" or "polishing" instead.
Of or concerning the teeth.
"She rushed to the clinic because her dental pain had become unbearable after eating an ice cube."
In plain English: Dental means anything related to your teeth.
"She visited the clinic for a routine dental checkup."
Usage: Use "dental" to describe anything specifically related to teeth, such as dental care or dental hygiene. Do not use it interchangeably with "oral," which refers to the entire mouth including the tongue and cheeks.
The word entered English via Middle French and Late Latin, where it was formed by combining "tooth" with a suffix meaning "-al." Its original purpose was to describe anything related to teeth.