odontologyn.
/ˌɒdɒnˈtɒlədʒi/, /ˌəʊdɒnˈtɒlədʒi/, U.S. /ˌoʊdɑnˈtɑlədʒi/ The scientific study of teeth, esp. as a branch of comparative anatomy or forensic medicine; (also) the science of dentistry, dental science.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > study of body > study of other parts > [noun] > of teeth
odontology1813
odontography1840
1813 J. M. Good et al. Pantologia Odontology.
1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 841/2 Odontology, the branch of anatomical science which treats of the teeth.
1878 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 169 31 I have described the structure of the tooth of the Hake at some length, because I am not acquainted with any description of it in the pages of writers on odontology.
1911 Chambers's Jrnl. June 375/1 The British Medical Association has recently founded a Section of Odontology.
1966 G. Gustafson Forensic Odontology Introd. 11 Not only has forensic odontology been applied to identification after accidents, but also in those situations in which dental science is connected with legal procedures.
1974 Encycl. Brit. Macropædia XI. 814/1 Other specialties on which the courts frequently require expert opinion include forensic odontology.
1980 F. Smyth Cause of Death i. 31 Odontology—the investigation of teeth—is of increasing importance as more and more dental records are kept throughout the world.
1993 New Scientist 3 Apr. 1/4 In odontology the term [edentate] is confined to animals that are devoid of incisors and canines in both jaws.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1813