B2English

At the Dentist

Use these phrases when describing dental symptoms, discussing treatment options, and asking about costs during a visit to the dentist.

Key Phrases

Voice
Describing the pain · 2 ways to say it

My jaw has been absolutely killing me, especially when I try to bite down.

casual

A common idiom for severe pain

I've been experiencing a constant, throbbing pain in my upper left molar.

neutral
Describing sensitivity

It gets incredibly sensitive if I have anything cold, and the pain lingers.

neutral
Relaying previous advice

My previous dentist mentioned that this tooth might eventually need a crown.

neutral

Useful for explaining your dental history

Asking about treatment options · 2 ways to say it

So, am I just looking at a regular filling, or is it something more serious?

casual

If we decided to do a crown, would that be fully covered by my insurance?

polite
Asking about extraction · 2 ways to say it

Are you gonna have to pull the tooth, or can it be saved?

casual

US

Will the tooth eventually have to be taken out, or can we save it?

neutral

UK

Requesting more anesthetic · 2 ways to say it

Could you numb it a bit more? I can still feel exactly what you're doing.

casual

Would it be possible to have a little more anesthetic? I'm still feeling a sharp pain.

polite
Expressing discomfort · 2 ways to say it

Ow, that actually hurts quite a bit—I think I might need another shot.

casual

Used during the procedure to pause the dentist

I'm feeling a significant amount of discomfort when you press on that specific area.

polite
Asking about post-treatment care · 2 ways to say it

How long should I wait before the numbness wears off and I can eat?

neutral

Could you tell me if there's anything I should avoid eating while the filling sets?

polite
Asking about cost · 2 ways to say it

Could you give me a rough estimate of what the out-of-pocket costs will be?

neutral

I would appreciate a detailed breakdown of the charges before we proceed with the procedure.

polite

Practice Dialogue

Patient
So, my jaw has been absolutely killing me since the weekend. It gets incredibly sensitive if I drink anything cold.
Dentist
Right, let me just take a quick look. Open wide, please. ... Any discomfort when I tap right here?
Patient
Ah, yeah, that actually hurts quite a bit. Will the tooth have to be pulled?
Dentist
Well, it's not quite that bad, you know? But you do have a pretty deep cavity in that back molar.
Patient
Oh, okay. So, am I just looking at a regular filling, or something worse?
Dentist
I mean, a filling should do the trick. If the decay had reached the nerve, we'd be looking at a root canal.
Patient
Right, I see. Could you give me an estimate of what the out-of-pocket costs will be for that?
Dentist
I'll have the front desk run the numbers for you. In the meantime, let's get you numbed up with some anesthetic.
Patient
Thanks. I'd really appreciate it if you could numb it a bit more than usual—I'm a bit anxious.
Dentist
Not a problem at all. We'll make sure you don't feel a thing.

More Health & Pharmacy (B2)

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