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Thematic Collection

Dentist English: Teeth, Procedures and Talking to Your Dentist

A dental appointment in an English-speaking country adds a layer of stress beyond the usual anxiety of sitting in the dentist's chair. Describing exactly where the pain is, asking about anaesthesia options, understanding post-treatment instructions — all of this requires vocabulary that most language courses never cover.

What you will find on this page:

  • 52 words — tooth anatomy, dental procedures, equipment and symptoms with transcription
  • 14 phrases — booking an appointment, describing pain, asking about anaesthesia, understanding aftercare
  • Dialogue at the dentist — from initial complaints to treatment plan and prescriptions, with translation
  • Common mistakes — 'teeth' vs 'tooth', 'toothache' vs 'dental pain', 'fill' vs 'treat a tooth'
  • FAQ — how to describe tooth pain in English, what 'crown', 'filling' and 'root canal' mean, how to ask for a second opinion

Word list to learn

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tooth
tuːθ
teeth
tiːθ
incisor
ɪnˈsaɪzər
canine
ˈkeɪnaɪn
premolar
ˌpriːˈməʊlər
molar
ˈməʊlər
wisdom tooth
ˈwɪzdəm tuːθ
crown
kraʊn
root
ruːt
enamel
ɪˈnæməl
dentine
ˈdentaɪn
pulp
pʌlp
gum
ɡʌm
jaw
dʒɔː
toothache
ˈtuːθeɪk
cavity
ˈkævɪti
tooth decay
tuːθ dɪˈkeɪ
abscess
ˈæbses
sensitivity
ˌsensɪˈtɪvɪti
bleeding gums
ˈbliːdɪŋ ɡʌmz
cracked tooth
krækt tuːθ
chipped tooth
tʃɪpt tuːθ
loose tooth
luːs tuːθ
swollen gum
ˈswəʊlən ɡʌm
filling
ˈfɪlɪŋ
composite filling
ˈkɒmpəzɪt ˈfɪlɪŋ
amalgam filling
əˈmælɡəm ˈfɪlɪŋ
root canal
ruːt kəˈnæl
extraction
ɪkˈstrækʃən
implant
ˈɪmplɑːnt
bridge
brɪdʒ
dentures
ˈdentʃərz
braces
ˈbreɪsɪz
retainer
rɪˈteɪnər
scale and polish
skeɪl ænd ˈpɒlɪʃ
teeth whitening
tiːθ ˈwaɪtənɪŋ
local anaesthetic
ˌləʊkəl ˌænəsˈθetɪk
injection
ɪnˈdʒekʃən
numb
nʌm
sedation
sɪˈdeɪʃən
topical anaesthetic
ˈtɒpɪkəl ˌænəsˈθetɪk
drill
drɪl
X-ray
ˈeks reɪ
tartar
ˈtɑːtər
plaque
plæk
toothbrush
ˈtuːθbrʌʃ
toothpaste
ˈtuːθpeɪst
floss
flɒs
mouthwash
ˈmaʊθwɒʃ
dentist
ˈdentɪst
dental hygienist
ˈdentəl haɪˈdʒiːnɪst
orthodontist
ˌɔːθəˈdɒntɪst
check-up
ˈtʃek ʌp
throbbing
ˈθrɒbɪŋ

Useful phrases

Click the icon to hear the pronunciation

I'd like to make an appointment with the dentist.
I have a toothache — it started two days ago.
It's this upper left molar — it hurts when I bite down.
The pain is throbbing and constant — it kept me awake last night.
This tooth is very sensitive to cold drinks.
Could I have a local anaesthetic for this procedure?
Could you apply a numbing gel before the injection?
I'll raise my hand if I need you to stop.
I can still feel it — could I have a little more anaesthetic?
What does the treatment involve, and how long will it take?
Is there a less invasive alternative to extraction?
I have dental anxiety — please warn me before you start.
Can I eat and drink normally after the filling?
Could you write me a prescription for pain relief?

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At the Dentist: Pain, Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

Click the speaker icon to hear the full dialogue

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D
Good morning! What brings you in today?
P
I've had a terrible toothache for three days — this upper right molar. The pain wakes me up at night.
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D
I see. Let me have a look. Can you open wide for me, please?
P
Of course. It hurts a lot when I bite down on that side. It is also very sensitive to cold.
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D
I can see there is significant decay and the gum around it is quite swollen. I would like to take an X-ray first.
P
Of course. Do you think it might need to come out?
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D
The X-ray shows the infection has reached the pulp. I would recommend a root canal to save the tooth rather than extract it.
P
Is it going to hurt? I am quite nervous about dental procedures.
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D
You will have a local anaesthetic, so you should not feel any pain at all. Would you like me to apply a numbing gel before the injection?
P
Yes please, that would help a lot. How long will the procedure take?
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D
About an hour. The tooth will be numb throughout. You may feel some pressure, but no pain. If you need me to stop at any point, just raise your hand.
P
Understood. Will I be able to eat normally afterwards?
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D
Wait until the numbness has fully worn off — about two to three hours. Then avoid hard or chewy food on that side for a day or two.
P
Should I take anything for the pain afterwards?
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D
Ibuprofen every six to eight hours should be sufficient. I will also prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection — please take the full course even if you feel better.
P
Thank you, doctor. I feel much more reassured knowing exactly what to expect.
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Common mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes

Wrong I have two tooths that hurt.
Correct I have two teeth that hurt.

Tooth/teeth is an Old English umlaut plural — the same Germanic pattern as foot/feet, goose/geese, mouse/mice, man/men. The vowel shifts from /uː/ to /iː/. Modern English no longer forms new plurals this way, making these legacy forms that must be memorised individually. All compounds (toothache, toothbrush, toothpaste, toothpick) use the singular root regardless of how many teeth are involved.

Wrong I have a teeth pain. / I have teeth pain.
Correct I have a toothache. / I have toothache.

English uses the -ache suffix to form single-word body-pain nouns: headache, stomachache, backache, earache, toothache. These are treated differently by dialect: American English treats toothache as a count noun ('a toothache'), while British English treats it as an uncountable mass noun ('I have toothache', no article). For specific localised pain, use 'a pain in my molar' or 'pain in my jaw'.

Wrong The dentist is going to remove my nerve.
Correct I'm having a root canal. / The dentist is going to do a root canal.

The clinical term for the soft inner tissue is pulp (not 'nerve'), though in lay speech 'nerve' is used informally and understood. However, the standard phrase for the procedure itself is root canal or root canal treatment — never 'nerve removal'. Dentists say 'perform a root canal' or 'do root canal therapy'; patients say 'I'm having a root canal' or 'I need a root canal'. The word 'endodontics' is the formal branch name but is rarely used in casual speech.

Wrong I need to make a filling. / The dentist will make a filling for me.
Correct I need to have/get a filling. / The dentist will do/place a filling.

The verb make implies creating an object from scratch. In dental contexts, patients undergo procedures (have/get) while dentists perform/do/place restorations. The distinction: 'make a filling' sounds like crafting one outside the mouth; 'place a filling' is the clinical term. Everyday speech: 'I need a filling', 'I'm getting a filling tomorrow', 'She had a filling done'. The same pattern applies: 'have an extraction', 'get a crown', 'have a root canal'.

Wrong I have an appointment at the dental cabinet.
Correct I have an appointment at the dental practice. / I'm going to the dentist's office.

The word cabinet in English refers to a piece of furniture (kitchen cabinet, filing cabinet) or to the Cabinet — the senior executive body of government. It never refers to a professional consulting room. British English uses practice for a professional healthcare setting (dental practice, GP's practice, law practice). American English uses office (dentist's office, doctor's office). You can also simply say 'the dentist's' — 'I have an appointment at the dentist's.'

About This List

Dental Vocabulary in English: A Complete Reference

Tooth Anatomy

Being able to point to the right tooth and describe the problem accurately saves time and reduces misunderstandings. A single tooth is tooth (plural: teeth — one of the most common English learner mistakes). Types of teeth: incisors (front cutting teeth), canines (pointed teeth either side of the incisors), premolars (transitional teeth behind the canines), molars (large flat grinding teeth at the back), wisdom teeth (third molars that emerge in adulthood, often causing problems). Tooth structure: crown (the visible part above the gum), root (the part embedded in the jawbone), enamel (hard outer coating), dentine (the layer beneath enamel), pulp (the soft inner core containing nerves and blood vessels), gum (the soft tissue around the base of teeth).

Symptoms and Complaints

Describing symptoms precisely helps the dentist diagnose faster. Core vocabulary: toothache — pain in a tooth (used as a noun: 'I have a toothache' or as an adjective: 'toothache pain'). Cavity — a hole caused by tooth decay (not 'caries', which is the clinical term). Sensitivity — discomfort when consuming hot, cold, sweet, or acidic items. Abscess — a pocket of pus caused by infection, often presenting as swelling. Swollen gum — inflamed gum tissue around a tooth. Bleeding gums — a sign of gingivitis or gum disease. Cracked tooth — a fracture in the tooth structure. Chipped tooth — a small break in the enamel. Loose tooth — a tooth with reduced support from the bone or gum.

Describing pain character: throbbing (pulsating), sharp (acute, stabbing), dull ache (constant but mild), shooting pain (pain that travels), intermittent (comes and goes).

Dental Procedures

Filling — a restoration that fills a cavity after decay is removed. Materials: composite (tooth-coloured, the standard today), amalgam (silver-coloured, older type). Root canal treatment (also root canal therapy or simply root canal) — removal of infected pulp from the root canal, followed by sealing. Despite its fearsome reputation, it is performed under local anaesthetic and should not be painful. Extraction — removal of a tooth that cannot be saved. Crown — a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape and function. Bridge — a fixed restoration that fills the gap left by a missing tooth, anchored to adjacent teeth. Implant — a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone, onto which a crown is attached. Scale and polish — professional cleaning to remove tartar (hardened plaque) and stain. Teeth whitening — bleaching treatment to lighten tooth colour.

Anaesthesia and Anxiety

Fear of the dentist (dental anxiety or dental phobia) is very common. Key vocabulary: local anaesthetic — an injection that numbs the area being treated. Topical anaesthetic — a gel applied to the gum before the injection to reduce needle discomfort. Numb (adjective) — without sensation: 'My lip feels numb.' Sedation — a medication-induced relaxed state (not full unconsciousness). General anaesthetic — full unconsciousness, used only for complex surgical procedures.

Useful phrases: 'Can I have a local anaesthetic for this?', 'Could you apply a numbing gel before the injection?', 'Please stop if it hurts — I'll raise my hand.'

Frequently Asked Questions

A filling is a restoration that fills the cavity left after removing decayed tooth material. It is used when a tooth is partially damaged. A crown is an artificial cap that covers the entire tooth — used when the tooth is too damaged for a filling, after a root canal treatment, or as a cosmetic restoration. The key difference: a filling preserves most of the natural tooth structure, while a crown requires the tooth to be significantly shaped down before fitting. Crowns are more durable for heavily damaged teeth.

A root canal (full name: root canal treatment) is a procedure to remove the pulp — the soft inner tissue containing nerves and blood vessels — from the root canals of a tooth. This is done when the pulp becomes infected or inflamed. The tooth is saved but becomes non-vital (it no longer responds to temperature). The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so it should not be painful during treatment. Some soreness for 2–3 days after is normal. The reputation for pain mostly comes from the infection that makes it necessary, not the procedure itself.

Describe four things: location ('upper right molar', 'bottom front tooth'), type ('throbbing', 'sharp', 'dull ache'), triggers ('when I bite', 'sensitive to cold', 'constant pain'), and duration ('started two days ago', 'comes and goes'). Example: 'I have a throbbing pain in my upper right molar — it started three days ago and it's worse when I bite down.' You can also point and say 'this tooth hurts' — dentists are used to patients pointing.

Numb means having no sensation — unable to feel touch or pain. After a local anaesthetic injection, the treated area becomes numb. The dentist may say 'You'll feel numb in a few minutes' or 'Is it numb yet?' You might say 'My lip feels numb' or 'My whole mouth is numb.' The numbness typically wears off within 2–4 hours. During this time you should be careful eating or drinking hot liquids to avoid biting your lip or burning your mouth.

Tooth is singular (one tooth). Teeth is the plural (two or more teeth). There is no 'tooths' in English — 'teeth' is an irregular plural. Examples: 'I chipped a tooth', 'I need to clean my teeth', 'She has healthy teeth'. Note that toothache is always singular — you say 'I have a toothache' (American English) or 'I have toothache' (British English, no article). Similarly: toothbrush, toothpaste, toothpick — all singular compounds even though they relate to all your teeth.

Be direct — dentists hear this regularly. Say: 'I have dental anxiety — please let me know before you do anything' or 'I'm nervous about the injection. Could you use a numbing gel first?' To signal pain during treatment: 'I'll raise my hand if I need you to stop.' If the anaesthetic isn't working: 'I can still feel it — could I have a bit more?' For sedation options: 'Is sedation available for this procedure?' Dentists genuinely prefer patients to speak up rather than suffer in silence.

Cavity is the everyday English word for a hole caused by tooth decay — what most dentists and patients say in conversation: 'You have a small cavity in your back tooth.' Dental caries is the clinical/scientific term for the same disease process — you'll see it in medical records and formal diagnoses. Tooth decay refers to the deterioration process itself. In practice: if your dentist says 'you have a cavity', they mean there's a hole that needs filling. If you say 'I think I have caries', they'll understand, but it sounds unusually formal.

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