In this paper, a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for dissolved oxygen was prepared. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with silver nanodendrites that were synthesized by electrochemical deposition on the electrode without the use of a surfactant or template. The electrode displayed efficient electrocatalytic reduction of dissolved oxygen to form hydroxy ions via a four-electron reduction pathway, and a significant decrease in the respective overvoltage. The sensor responded linearly to dissolved oxygen in the 1.0-66.7 mu M concentration range, and had a remarkably good sensitivity (0.169 mu A mu M-1) at an applied potential of -300 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The lower detection limit was 0.043 mu M (at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3), and the response time was 5 s. The good performance was attributed to the enlarged electro-active surface of the dendritic silver nanostructures and to the efficiency of electron transfer between dissolved oxygen and the electrode. The sensor also showed good reproducibility, long-term stability, and relative good selectivity.