French Vocabulary: At the Dentist

When you need to go to the dentist, you want to make sure that you can communicate effectively. It is very important that you understand what the dentist is saying in French and that you can tell them what it is you need.

At the dentist's office (chez le dentiste), you will want to know a few basic French words. In this lesson, you will learn about different types of teeth, procedures your dentist may recommend, and how to communicate any tooth pain you are experiencing. It is an easy French lesson and you will find it very helpful.

Note: Many of the words below are linked to .wav files. Simply click on the link to listen to the pronunciation.

Types of Teeth

Your teeth (les dents) are the focus of your trip to the dentist (le dentiste) and you should know how to identify which teeth are causing pain or concern.

• Tooth - la dent
• Baby tooth - la dent de lait
• Back tooth - la dent du fond
• Molar - la molaire
• Canine tooth - la canine
• Front tooth - la dent de devant
• Lower tooth - la dent du bas
• Upper tooth - la dent du haut
• Wisdom tooth - la dent de sagesse

Other Parts of the Mouth

You may also need to discuss other parts of your mouth with the dentist.

• Mouth - la bouche
• Gums - la gencive
• Jaw - la mâchoire

Dental Problems and Procedures

Whether you are at the dentist for a teeth cleaning (le détartrage) or something more serious, the dentist will ask you to open your mouth (ouvrez la bouche).

A toothache (mal aux dents) may be caused by many things. Your dentist may talk to you about one of these problems and have a solution, which may be either permanent (définitive) or temporary (provisoire).

• Abscess - un abcès
• Broken tooth - une dent cassée
• Cavity - une carie
• Crown - la couronne
• Filling - un plombage or une obturation
• Infected - infecté
• Root canal - le canal dentaire

As the dentist works, they might need to use one of these to ease your pain. Be sure to tell them if you have any allergies or medical conditions.

• Local anesthesia - une anesthésie locale
• Injection - une piqûre
• Novocain - la Novocaïne

Should you hear either dents du bonheur or dents de la chance, the dentist may be speaking of a gap between your teeth, also known as diastema.

Verbs Associated With Dentistry

To go along with the nouns of dentistry, you may need to use one of these verbs to communicate your concern or understand what your dentist is recommending.

• To bleed - saigner
• To brush (one's teeth) - se brosser (les dents)
• To hurt - se faire mal
• To lose - perdre
• To pull out, remove - arracher
• To replace - remplacer
• To rinse - rincer

Taking Care of Your Teeth

Of course, you need to take care of your teeth and these are essential French words you will want to know.

• Toothbrush - la brosse à dents
• Toothpaste - le dentifrice
• Dental floss - le fil dentaire
• Mouthwash - l'eau dentifrice