dentition
C2Formal, Technical, Scientific
Definition
Meaning
The natural arrangement, development, and number of teeth in a person's or animal's mouth at a particular stage.
The process of growing teeth, especially milk teeth; or the characteristics of a set of teeth, often used in zoology and anthropology to classify species.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical term in medicine, dentistry, and zoology. It can refer to both the process of teething and the resulting set of teeth as a functional unit. Used as a mass noun (e.g., 'studying dentition').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, clinical, descriptive. Carries the same scientific precision in both dialects.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech. Used with identical rarity in professional/academic contexts in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adjective] dentition of the [species]Dentition [verb, e.g., varies, indicates][Subject] has/had a/an [adjective] dentition.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cut one's teeth on something (idiom related to learning/beginning, not directly using 'dentition')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in biological anthropology, zoology, dentistry, and forensic science papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; a parent might use 'teething' instead.
Technical
Standard term in dental and zoological classification, describing tooth number, type, and arrangement (e.g., dental formula).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The dentition record was crucial for the archaeological report.
- Dentition development varies widely among primates.
American English
- The dentition chart showed evidence of malocclusion.
- Dentition patterns are key in fossil identification.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Babies can be fussy when their first teeth come in. (Using everyday term, not 'dentition')
- The dentist explained that the child's mixed dentition—having both baby and adult teeth—was developing normally.
- Anthropologists can deduce a great deal about a hominid's diet and age from fossilised dentition.
- The paper compared the diphyodont dentition of mammals with the polyphyodont dentition of sharks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think DENTist + condITION = DENTITION. A dentist examines the *condition* and arrangement of your teeth.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEETH ARE TOOLS (for identification, classification, mastication). DENTITION IS A BLUEPRINT/CODE (revealing species, age, diet).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дентин' (dentin - the hard tissue of a tooth). The Russian equivalent is 'зубная система', 'зубочелюстная система', or more generally 'зубы'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a dentition' is acceptable but 'dentitions' is very rare). Confusing it with 'dentist' or 'dental'. Using it in casual conversation where 'teeth' is appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'dentition' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While it refers to the teeth, it specifically denotes their arrangement, number, type, and development as a system, not just the individual teeth themselves.
It would sound overly formal and technical. In everyday contexts, simple words like 'teeth' or 'teething' (for the process) are almost always more appropriate.
Primary dentition refers to the first set of teeth, also known as baby or milk teeth. Permanent dentition refers to the second, final set of teeth that replace the primary ones.
It is exclusively a noun.