Updated on October 7, 2024
English vocabulary for going to the dentist
Learning the most common words and phrases to get help when you’re sick is one of the most important benefits of learning a language. When it comes to the dentist, not knowing what to say once you’re there and not understanding your dentist’s advice is especially frustrating – and even potentially life-threatening!
Don’t wait to develop a toothache to brush up on your English vocabulary for visiting the dentist. Most dentists recommend going for a routine dental check-up twice a year anyway, so you can practice using this dentis vocaulary and phrases while your teeth are healthy.
In case you need to visit a dentist, the following words and phrases help you describe your symptoms and understand the dentist’s instructions and recommendations.
Quick note: if you’re having trouble with other parts of your body and need to visit a doctor instead, take a look at this useful vocabulary for doctor’s visits.
Your mouth has many parts with different medical names. Most of time when you visit the dentist, you’ll only speak about your teeth. However, to help you understand from a visual perspective, we’ve added this graphic of the mouth. These words are helpful when describing your symptoms or when understanding your dentist’s recommendations, especially if they slip into medical dental jargon.
If you’re in doubt about the correct word to use, you can also just point to the area that hurts or feels uncomfortable and ask the dentist to look there (I actually do this anyways even in my home country, because it’s easier).
If you’re not just at the dentist for a teeth cleaning, you’ll need to describe the symptoms you’re experiencing in order for the dentist to diagnose the problem. You can use the phrases below to clarify the issue:
| Word or phrase | Definition |
| toothache | Pain felt in or around a tooth |
| sensitive teeth | Pain felt when drinking hot or cold beverages |
| sore gums | A painful sensation in the gums, usually when brushing or flossing |
| mouth sores | Small, painful blisters in the mouth |
| bad breath | Unpleasant smell from inside the mouth |
| dry mouth | Not enough saliva that causes a sticky and dry feeling in the mouth |
Once your dentist has finished the examination, they will explain the issue and how it can be treated. Some of the most common dental problems are as follows:
| Word or phrase | Definition |
| cavity | A decayed part of the tooth forms a hole |
| decay | An infection that destroys the teeth |
| gingivitis | Inflammation of the soft gum tissue surrounding the teeth |
| plaque | A sticky substance containing microorganisms that grow on the surface of teeth |
| infection | A disease caused by harmful microorganisms like bacteria or virus (in this case linked to the mouth or area around the mouth) |
| broken teeth | A crack or chip on the tooth, usually caused by injuries to the mouth |
| teeth stains | Yellowish discolouration of the teeth caused by food and drinks or by disease and medications |
There are a wide variety of regular and specialised dental treatments. This table provides a dental word list your doctor might use when explaining such dental procedures:
| Word or phrase | Definition |
| filling | A protective material like gold, porcelain, or composite resin is used to fill a tooth cavity or repair cracked or broken teeth |
| flossing | Cleaning between your teeth using a thin thread, which is called a dental floss (usually also done at home) |
| mouthwash | A liquid used for rinsing the mouth |
| whitening | Bleaching teeth to make them look whiter |
| braces | Metal or plastic wires that are attached to the teeth to push them into the correct position |
| dentures | A removable replacement for missing teeth |
| extract | To remove a tooth |
| implant | A small titanium fixture that replaces the root portion of a missing tooth |
| crown | A material used to cover a damaged tooth |
| anesthesia | A medication injected to help lessen the pain and discomfort during a dental procedure |
| dental x-ray | Pictures of teeth and gums that show a dentist if there are cavities, gum disease, or other dental problems |
| dental check-up | A routine examination of the teeth to make sure they are healthy |
| teeth cleaning | (Usually) twice per year procedures used to clean the gums and teeth in order to promote general teeth health |
After a general checkup, your dentist may recommend you to visit a specialist who can best help with your specific dental problem. Here is a list of words that describe a dentist more specifically and other related health practitioners that you may need to visit:
| Type of Dentist or Health Practitioner | What they specialize in |
| Dental hygienist | A person who cleans the teeth, checks for gum disease, and advises on how to care for your teeth |
| Dental technician | A person who constructs custom dentures, crowns, implants, and other dental appliances |
| Endodontist | A dentist who specializes in treating root canals |
| Orthodontist | A dentist who specializes in straightening teeth |
To mention something super important: the extent to which dental costs are covered by health insurance depends on the location and country at hand. If you’re traveling or living abroad and are new to the healthcare system, make sure you check with your insurance provider about how they handle visits to the dentists in order to avoid or reduce paying for everything on your own.
For more specific details on this, take a look at our country-specific health insurance guides for:
