the.com/dentistry

means The branch of medicine devoted to the care and treatment of teeth and gums.

from Built from Latin 'dens, dentis' meaning tooth, the same root that gives us 'dental' and 'indent' (the latter from the idea of a tooth-like notch). The '-istry' suffix, echoing words like 'chemistry' and 'ministry', was tacked on to name it as a distinct practiced craft — the term and profession coalescing into modern form around the 18th century as tooth-pulling barbers gave way to trained practitioners.