French Vocabulary Lesson 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 dentists 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  dentBaby tooth -  la dent de  laitBack tooth -  la dent du  fondMolar -  la  molaireCanine tooth -  la  canineFront tooth -  la dent de  devant Lower tooth -  la dent du  basUpper tooth -  la dent du  hautWisdom 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  boucheGums -  la  genciveJaw -  la  mà ¢choire Dental Problems and Procedures Whether you are at the dentist for a teeth cleaning (le  dà ©tartrage) 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 (dà ©finitive) or temporary (provisoire). Abscess -  un  abcà ¨sBroken tooth -  une dent  cassà ©eCavity - une  carieCrown -  la  couronneFilling -  un  plombage  or  une  obturationInfected -  infectà ©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  anesthà ©sie  localeInjection -  une  piqà »reNovocain - la  Novocaà ¯ne 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 -  saignerTo brush (ones teeth) -  se  brosser  (les dents)To hurt - se  faire malTo lose -  perdreTo pull out, remove -  arracherTo replace -  remplacerTo 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  Ãƒ  Ã‚  dents Toothpaste -  le  dentifriceDental floss -  le  fil  dentaireMouthwash -  leau  dentifrice