At the Dentist: Dental Terminology in Spanish

Imagine that you need to go to the dentist while on vacation in sunny Cancún; what dental terminology in Spanish would you use? 

Learning a language implies learning a lot of different vocabulary, even when you don’t need it at the moment. If you were to learn only words that you need when you need them, your language skills would be very limited. 

For that reason, today I’ll introduce you to some of the most useful and specific dental terminology in Spanish, including dental problems and procedures, anatomy, instruments, and materials.  

Why Learn Dental Terminology in Spanish?

Learning dental terminology in Spanish—or any health-related terminology in Spanish—is key if you’re planning to spend time in a Spanish-speaking country in the near future. You never know when an emergency may arise, and you need to be able to communicate with your dentist wherever you may be. 

However, you don’t only learn dental terminology in Spanish to prepare for a hypothetical emergency, you also do it simply to keep growing your vocabulary by learning specific terms about different areas of life. 

This improves your general knowledge of the language. You may not love football, yet you could still learn about football in Spanish. Same thing here, you study dental terminology in Spanish precisely because it’s in Spanish, and that’s the language you’re learning. 

Dental Terminology in Spanish

By “dental terminology in Spanish,” I’m referring to all kinds of words that may be said in a visit to the dentist, including the different areas at the dental office; parts of the tooth and mouth; dental problems and procedures; the dentist’s instruments and materials; and other dental general terms.

At the Dentist’s Office

Let’s start by exploring the dental office, its different parts, and the people you’ll find there.

Parts of the Tooth

When it comes to dental terminology in Spanish, the parts of the tooth is one of the most important sections—and one of the lesser known.

Teeth and Mouth

Every tooth has its own name and it’s important to know them both in English and in Spanish to be able to communicate with your dentist properly. This section also includes the different parts of the mouth. 

Dental Problems

Perhaps the main reason to learn dental terminology in Spanish is to be able to tell your dentist what is the problem you might be experiencing. Here’s a list of the most common dental problems: 

Dental Procedures

Now, let’s focus on some of the most common dental procedures.

Dentist’s Instruments and Materials

Dentists’ instruments have a name; let’s learn what they’re called in Spanish. I’m including some of the materials dentists use, too. 

Dental-related Verbs

These are some verbs commonly used when you visit your dentist.

General Dental Terms

Last but not least, we’ll conclude our lesson on dental terminology in Spanish with general dental terms.

Don’t Forget to Brush Your Teeth and Practice Spanish!

Just like brushing your teeth, developing your Spanish should be a daily habit. Try to introduce this dental terminology in Spanish into real-life conversations and that way you’ll be ready to use it when the occasion arises. Sign up for a free class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala, and start talking about dental terminology in Spanish today!

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Luis F. Dominguez

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

Luis F. Domínguez is a freelance writer and independent journalist interested in travel, languages, art, books, history, philosophy, politics and sports. He has written for Fodor’s, Yahoo!, Sports Illustrated, Telemundo, and Villa Experience, among other brands of print and digital media in Europe and North America.

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