歯科医(しかい)

歯科医(しかい) is the formal/professional term for a dentist. In everyday conversation, 歯医者(はいしゃ) is far more commonly used.

Forms

歯科(しか) (dental department) + 医(い) (doctor). The 科(か) means "department/branch of medicine," as in 内科(ないか) (internal medicine), 外科(げか) (surgery), and 眼科(がんか) (ophthalmology).

Related words

• 歯医者(はいしゃ): dentist (casual, everyday)
• 歯科(しか): dentistry; dental department
• 歯科医院(しかいいん): dental clinic
• 歯科衛生士(しかえいせいし): dental hygienist

Common collocations

• 歯科医(しかい)に行(い)く: to go to the dentist
• 歯科医(しかい)を予約(よやく)する: to make a dental appointment
• 歯科医(しかい)で検診(けんしん)を受(う)ける: to get a dental checkup

Usage

Use 歯科医(しかい) in formal or written contexts. In speech, 歯医者(はいしゃ)さん (with さん for politeness) is standard.