Dental Terms in Chinese: Essential Vocabulary, Phrases, and Pronunciation

Key takeaways

• The most essential word for dental contexts in Chinese is 牙 (yá: tooth), which appears in almost every dental term as a building block: 牙科 (dental clinic), 牙痛 (toothache), 牙医 (dentist)
• Chinese dental vocabulary is used both in China’s public and private hospital systems, where communication with doctors in Chinese is essential even in major cities
• Common dental conditions (蛀牙 zhùyá, 牙周病 yázhōubìng) and procedures (补牙 bǔyá, 洗牙 xǐyá) each have specific terms that differ enough that guessing from general vocabulary does not work
• Knowing how to describe dental pain in Chinese (where it hurts, how it hurts, since when) is one of the most practically urgent language skills for people living or traveling in China

A dental problem is one situation where correct vocabulary matters immediately and practically. Whether you are describing pain to a dentist, asking about a procedure, or understanding aftercare instructions, the language gap between tooth and the specific clinical vocabulary makes all the difference.

italki connects learners with Chinese teachers who can prepare you for medical conversations including dental contexts before you need them.

This guide covers dental professionals, tooth anatomy, common dental conditions, procedures and treatments, post-treatment vocabulary, and practical phrases for the dentist’s office, with pinyin throughout.

Dental professionals and settings

Chinese	Pinyin	English
牙医	yáyī	dentist
牙科医生	yákē yīshēng	dentist (more formal title)
口腔科	kǒuqiāng kē	dentistry department (in a hospital)
牙科诊所	yákē zhěnsuǒ	dental clinic
口腔医院	kǒuqiāng yīyuàn	dental hospital
护士	hùshi	nurse
牙科助理	yákē zhùlǐ	dental assistant
正畸医生	zhèngjī yīshēng	orthodontist
口腔外科医生	kǒuqiāng wàikē yīshēng	oral surgeon
挂号	guàhào	registration (check-in at hospital)
预约	yùyuē	appointment / reservation
候诊室	hòuzhěn shì	waiting room
诊室	zhěn shì	examination room

In China’s public hospital system, you register (挂号) at the reception desk before seeing the doctor. Private dental clinics (私立牙科诊所) operate more like Western dental offices with direct appointment booking.

Tooth anatomy

Chinese	Pinyin	English
牙齿	yáchǐ	tooth / teeth (general)
牙	yá	tooth (common abbreviation)
门牙	ményá	front teeth / incisors
犬齿	quǎnchǐ	canine teeth
磨牙	móyá	molars
智齿	zhìchǐ	wisdom teeth
乳牙	rǔyá	baby teeth / milk teeth
恒牙	héngyá	permanent teeth
牙冠	yáguān	crown (visible part of tooth)
牙根	yágēn	root of tooth
牙釉质	yá yòuzhì	tooth enamel
牙本质	yá běnzhì	dentin
牙髓	yásuǐ	dental pulp
牙龈	yáyín	gums
牙槽骨	yácáo gǔ	alveolar bone (bone holding teeth)
口腔	kǒuqiāng	oral cavity / mouth
舌头	shétou	tongue
颌骨	hégǔ	jaw bone

Common dental conditions

Chinese	Pinyin	English
蛀牙	zhùyá	tooth decay / cavity
龋齿	qǔchǐ	dental caries (clinical term for cavities)
牙痛	yátòng	toothache
牙周病	yázhōubìng	periodontal disease / gum disease
牙龈炎	yáyín yán	gingivitis (gum inflammation)
牙龈出血	yáyín chūxuè	bleeding gums
牙齿松动	yáchǐ sōngdòng	loose tooth
牙齿缺失	yáchǐ quēshī	missing tooth
牙裂	yá liè	cracked tooth
口臭	kǒuchòu	bad breath / halitosis
敏感牙齿	mǐngǎn yáchǐ	sensitive teeth
颞下颌关节问题	niè xià hé guānjié wèntí	temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problem
智齿冠周炎	zhìchǐ guānzhōuyán	pericoronitis (wisdom tooth infection)
口腔溃疡	kǒuqiāng kuìyáng	mouth ulcer / canker sore

Dental procedures and treatments

Chinese	Pinyin	English
洗牙	xǐyá	teeth cleaning / dental scaling
补牙	bǔyá	dental filling
拔牙	báyá	tooth extraction
根管治疗	gēnguǎn zhìliáo	root canal treatment
牙冠修复	yáguān xiūfù	dental crown placement
种植牙	zhòngzhí yá	dental implant
假牙	jiǎyá	dentures / false teeth
牙桥	yáqiáo	dental bridge
贴面	tiēmiàn	dental veneer
矫正	jiǎozhèng	orthodontic treatment / braces
牙套	yátào	braces / retainer
隐形矫正	yǐnxíng jiǎozhèng	invisible/clear aligner (Invisalign-type)
美白	měibái	teeth whitening
涂氟	tú fú	fluoride treatment
封闭剂	fēnbì jì	dental sealant
X光检查	X guāng jiǎnchá	dental X-ray

Dental tools and materials

Chinese	Pinyin	English
麻药	máyào	anesthetic (local)
打麻药	dǎ máyào	give an injection of anesthetic
钻头	zuàntóu	dental drill
填充物	tiánchōng wù	filling material
牙线	yáxiàn	dental floss
牙刷	yáshuā	toothbrush
牙膏	yágāo	toothpaste
漱口水	shùkǒu shuǐ	mouthwash
洁牙粉	jié yá fěn	tooth cleaning powder

Describing pain and symptoms

These phrases are essential for explaining what is wrong to a dentist.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我牙痛	Wǒ yátòng	My tooth hurts
这颗牙疼	Zhè kē yá téng	This tooth hurts
我有蛀牙	Wǒ yǒu zhùyá	I have a cavity
我的牙龈出血	Wǒ de yáyín chūxuè	My gums are bleeding
我的牙齿很敏感	Wǒ de yáchǐ hěn mǐngǎn	My teeth are very sensitive
我吃热的/冷的就疼	Wǒ chī rè de / lěng de jiù téng	It hurts when I eat hot/cold food
我的牙松动了	Wǒ de yá sōngdòng le	My tooth is loose
我智齿疼	Wǒ zhìchǐ téng	My wisdom tooth hurts
我昨天开始疼的	Wǒ zuótiān kāishǐ téng de	The pain started yesterday
一直疼 / 有时候疼	Yīzhí téng / Yǒushíhòu téng	Constant pain / Intermittent pain
跳痛	tiào tòng	throbbing pain
胀痛	zhàng tòng	pressure/dull aching pain
剧烈疼痛	jùliè téngtòng	severe pain

Phrases for the dentist’s office

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我想预约看牙	Wǒ xiǎng yùyuē kàn yá	I would like to make a dental appointment
我有预约，姓…	Wǒ yǒu yùyuē, xìng…	I have an appointment, surname is…
我对麻药过敏	Wǒ duì máyào guòmǐn	I am allergic to anesthetic
需要打麻药吗？	Xūyào dǎ máyào ma?	Do I need an injection of anesthetic?
这个手术多长时间？	Zhège shǒushù duō cháng shíjiān?	How long will this procedure take?
大概需要几次治疗？	Dàgài xūyào jǐ cì zhìliáo?	How many appointments will this need approximately?
这需要多少钱？	Zhè xūyào duōshao qián?	How much will this cost?
能保险报销吗？	Néng bǎoxiǎn bàoxiāo ma?	Is this covered by insurance?
请张嘴	Qǐng zhāng zuǐ	Please open your mouth
请漱口	Qǐng shùkǒu	Please rinse
有点儿不舒服，可以停一下吗？	Yǒudiǎnr bù shūfú, kěyǐ tíng yīxià ma?	It is a little uncomfortable, can we stop for a moment?

A private Chinese tutor can role-play a dentist consultation with you so you can practice these phrases in a realistic context before you need them in an actual dental appointment.

Aftercare and prevention vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
刷牙	shuāyá	to brush teeth
饭后刷牙	fàn hòu shuāyá	brush teeth after meals
使用牙线	shǐyòng yáxiàn	use dental floss
定期检查	dìngqī jiǎnchá	regular check-up
少吃甜食	shǎo chī tiánshí	eat less sweet food
避免吸烟	bìmiǎn xīyān	avoid smoking
术后护理	shùhòu hùlǐ	post-operative care
不要用力漱口	Bùyào yònglì shùkǒu	Do not rinse vigorously
今天不要吃硬的食物	Jīntiān bùyào chī yìng de shíwù	Do not eat hard food today
如果疼痛加剧，请复诊	Rúguǒ téngtòng jiājù, qǐng fùzhěn	If the pain gets worse, come back for a follow-up

Practice medical Chinese with a tutor

Dental vocabulary needs to be accessible under stress, which means you need it in long-term memory rather than as something you look up in the waiting room. italki has 30,000+ expert tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, including Chinese tutors who can conduct mock medical conversations, help you describe symptoms accurately, and prepare you for the specific conversational situations you will face. Book a trial lesson and build the vocabulary that matters when you actually need it.

FAQ

How does the Chinese healthcare system work for dental appointments?

China has both public hospital systems (公立医院, gōnglì yīyuàn) and private clinics (私立诊所, sīlì zhěnsuǒ). At public hospitals, you first register (挂号) at a reception desk, then wait to be called. Dental departments (口腔科) are often separate departments within larger hospitals. Private dental clinics work more like Western offices: book an appointment online or by phone, arrive, and see the dentist. Private clinics typically have shorter waits and some have English-speaking staff in major cities.

What is the difference between 蛀牙 and 龋齿?

Both refer to tooth decay and cavities. 蛀牙 (literally moth-eaten tooth) is the common, everyday term that any Chinese speaker will understand. 龋齿 is the clinical and technical term used in medical documentation, research, and professional contexts. In conversation with your dentist, 蛀牙 is the natural word to use. If you are reading a dental health article or official document, you may see 龋齿 instead.

Is dental care expensive in China for foreigners?

Dental care in China is generally significantly less expensive than in the United States or United Kingdom, both at public hospitals and private clinics. However, prices vary considerably: basic cleaning and fillings at public hospitals cost very little, while premium international-standard private clinics in Shanghai or Beijing can be comparable to Western prices. For longer-term residents, enrolling in Chinese social insurance (社会保险, shèhuì bǎoxiǎn) covers some dental costs at public hospitals. Travel insurance and international health insurance typically cover dental emergencies.