Deep inelastic neutron-scattering measurements have been performed in dense fluid 4He along three isochores at number densities 33, 38, and 45 nm-3 and temperatures ranging from 4.35 to 56 K. Data have been analyzed in the plane-wave impulse-approximation framework to obtain the root-mean-square values of the single-particle momentum along a given direction px. The density and temperature behavior of the derived mean kinetic energies is discussed in comparison with a simple harmonic model for the fluid and with quantum simulations performed using a path-integral Monte Carlo code. The comparison with the harmonic models sheds light on the density dependence of the zero-point kinetic energy of the particles and points out the inadequacy of a single-frequency Einstein-oscillator model in describing its temperature dependence. The quantum simulation results are in substantial agreement with the experimental data although systematic deviations are found as the density is increased.