Dental terms in French: complete vocabulary and useful phrases for your next dentist visit

Key takeaways

• Core mouth anatomy in French includes une dent (tooth), une gencive (gum), une molaire (molar), la mâchoire (jaw), and une dent de sagesse (wisdom tooth).
• Pain descriptions follow a simple formula: J’ai mal à + location + timing + trigger, such as J’ai mal à une dent depuis hier, surtout au froid.
• Procedure terms like un détartrage (cleaning), une carie (cavity), un plombage (filling), une couronne (crown), and une extraction (extraction) let you understand what the dentist is suggesting before you agree.
• Practicing your personal symptom script with a French tutor turns memorized words into sentences you can say under pressure.

Dental terms in French give you the specific words to explain pain, understand a diagnosis, ask the right questions about treatment, and handle paperwork at a French-speaking hospital.

This guide covers teeth and mouth anatomy, pain descriptions, procedure names, booking scripts, in-chair commands, insurance vocabulary, and emergency phrases, all with pronunciation hints and English meanings.

A French tutor can run a dentist-visit role-play, correct your symptom descriptions, and make sure you sound clear under stress before you need these phrases in a real clinic.

What are the essential dental anatomy terms in French?

The words for teeth, gums, jaw, and specific tooth types form the foundation of every dentist conversation. Almost every interaction at a French dental clinic begins with pointing to a location in your mouth, so these are the terms you need first.

English	French	Pronunciation hint
tooth	une dent	uhn dahn
teeth	les dents	lay dahn
gum	une gencive	uhn zhahn-seev
mouth	la bouche	lah boosh
jaw	la mâchoire	lah mah-shwar
molar	une molaire	uhn moh-lehr
canine tooth	une canine	uhn kah-neen
incisor	une incisive	uhn an-see-zeev
wisdom tooth	une dent de sagesse	uhn dahn duh sah-zhess
tongue	la langue	lah lahng
palate	le palais	luh pah-leh
root	la racine	lah rah-seen

French splits teeth by function, just like English. But in conversation, you rarely need the formal name. Instead, point and describe position: une dent du fond (a back tooth), une dent de devant (a front tooth), en haut (upper), en bas (lower). Combining these is more useful than memorizing every anatomical label. For example:

• C’est une dent du fond, en bas, à gauche. It is a back tooth, lower, on the left.
• C’est une dent de devant, en haut. It is a front tooth, upper.

How do you describe tooth pain and symptoms in French?

To describe tooth pain, use the phrase J’ai mal à followed by the location, then layer on timing and triggers. French dentists need three things from you: where, when, and what makes it worse.

Location + the J’ai mal à formula:

• J’ai mal aux dents. I have a toothache (general).
• J’ai mal à une dent. One tooth hurts.
• J’ai mal à la gencive. My gum hurts.
• J’ai mal à la mâchoire. My jaw hurts.

Adding timing with depuis:

• …depuis ce matin. …since this morning.
• …depuis hier soir. …since last night.
• …depuis une semaine. …for a week.
• …depuis trois jours. …for three days.

Adding triggers with quand or au/à la:

• Ça fait mal quand je mâche. It hurts when I chew.
• C’est sensible au froid. It is sensitive to cold.
• C’est sensible au chaud. It is sensitive to heat.
• Ça fait mal quand j’appuie dessus. It hurts when I press on it.
• Ça fait mal quand je bois quelque chose de sucré. It hurts when I drink something sweet.

Describing what you see or feel:

• Ma gencive saigne. My gum is bleeding.
• Ma gencive est gonflée. My gum is swollen.
• La douleur est forte. The pain is strong.
• La douleur vient et repart. The pain comes and goes.
• La douleur est constante. The pain is constant.
• J’ai une bosse sur la gencive. I have a bump on my gum.

A complete symptom sentence sounds like this: J’ai mal à une dent du fond depuis trois jours, surtout quand je mâche ou quand je bois quelque chose de froid. (I have pain in a back tooth for three days, especially when I chew or drink something cold.)

One useful vocabulary distinction: douleur is the clinical noun for pain, while mal is the everyday word used in J’ai mal. The dentist might ask Vous avez une douleur? (Do you have pain?) and you answer with either Oui, j’ai mal ici (Yes, it hurts here) or Oui, la douleur est forte (Yes, the pain is strong).

Symptom phrases are the hardest to say under stress because your mouth is the problem. The best preparation is rehearsing your personal symptom script out loud, ideally with someone who can correct you in real time. An online French tutor can play the role of the dentist asking Où avez-vous mal? while you practice pointing and answering until the words come without hesitation.

What French vocabulary covers dental procedures and treatments?

French dental procedure vocabulary splits into routine care, restorative work, and prosthetics. Learning the words in these groups helps you follow the dentist’s treatment suggestion and ask targeted follow-up questions.

Routine care

• Un détartrage (uhn day-tar-trazh): cleaning/scaling. On va faire un détartrage. We are going to do a cleaning.
• Un contrôle (uhn kon-trohl): checkup. C’est pour un contrôle annuel. It is for an annual checkup.
• Une radio (uhn rah-dyoh): X-ray. On va faire une radio pour vérifier. We will take an X-ray to check.

Restorative and surgical

• Une carie (uhn kah-ree): cavity. Vous avez une carie. You have a cavity. The French health system classifies carie dentaire as a disease that attacks tooth enamel and progresses toward the center of the tooth.
• Un plombage (uhn plom-bazh): filling. Il faut faire un plombage. A filling is needed.
• Une extraction (uhn eks-trak-syon): extraction. On doit faire une extraction. An extraction is needed.
• Un traitement de canal (uhn tret-mahn duh kah-nal): root canal. Le dentiste propose un traitement de canal. The dentist is suggesting a root canal.
• Une anesthésie locale (uhn ah-nes-tay-zee loh-kal): local anesthesia. On fait une anesthésie locale d’abord. We do local anesthesia first.

Prosthetics

• Une couronne (uhn koo-ron): crown. The standard prosthetic cap that covers a damaged tooth.
• Un bridge (uhn breedzh): bridge. On parlera d’un bridge si nécessaire. We will discuss a bridge if needed.
• Une prothèse dentaire (uhn pro-tez dahn-tehr): dental prosthesis/denture. C’est une prothèse amovible. It is a removable denture.
• Un implant (uhn am-plahn): implant. Il faut d’abord vérifier l’os pour l’implant. We need to check the bone first for the implant.
• Un appareil dentaire (uhn ah-pah-ray dahn-tehr): braces/orthodontic appliance. Mon fils porte un appareil dentaire. My son wears braces.

After the dentist names a procedure, use these follow-up questions:

• Est-ce que c’est urgent? Is it urgent?
• Est-ce que ça va faire mal? Is it going to hurt?
• Combien de temps ça prend? How long does it take?
• Est-ce que je dois revenir? Do I need to come back?
• Quelles sont les alternatives? What are the alternatives?

Dental and health vocabulary overlaps with other travel situations. If your trip also involves restaurants and hotels, French phrases for travel covers the broader phrase set you will need beyond the clinic.

How do you book a dentist appointment in French?

Booking a dentist appointment by phone requires four things: a greeting, your reason, your availability, and your contact details. Below are two scripts, one for a routine visit and one for something more urgent, followed by the reception exchange when you arrive.

Phone script for a routine checkup

Bonjour, je voudrais prendre rendez-vous pour un contrôle et un détartrage, s’il vous plaît. Je suis disponible le matin, du lundi au mercredi. Mon nom est Dupont, et mon numéro est le 06 12 34 56 78.

Hello, I would like to make an appointment for a checkup and cleaning, please. I am available in the morning, Monday through Wednesday. My name is Dupont, and my number is 06 12 34 56 78.

Phone script for pain

Bonjour, j’ai mal à une dent depuis hier. C’est assez urgent. Est-ce que vous auriez un créneau aujourd’hui ou demain? Je m’appelle Martin.

Hello, I have had tooth pain since yesterday. It is rather urgent. Would you have a time slot today or tomorrow? My name is Martin.

Arriving at reception

When you arrive, the exchange typically follows this pattern:

You: Bonjour, j’ai rendez-vous à 14 heures avec le docteur Martin. Receptionist: C’est à quel nom? You: C’est au nom de Dupont. Receptionist: Vous avez votre carte Vitale? You: Je n’ai pas de carte Vitale. Je suis étranger / étrangère. (I do not have a carte Vitale. I am a foreigner.) Receptionist: Pas de souci. Vous avez une pièce d’identité? (No problem. Do you have an ID?)

If phone calls make you nervous, write your three lines before calling: your name, your problem, and your availability. Then read them slowly. For polite request wording in other situations, please in French covers s’il vous plaît, je voudrais, and pourriez-vous.

The biggest mistake is memorizing phrases silently instead of saying them aloud under time pressure. Run a realistic 10-minute phone-call drill with a French language instructor, including spelling your name letter by letter, confirming the time slot, and asking about the clinic address.

What will the dentist say during the appointment, and how do you respond?

During the appointment, the dentist uses short commands and yes/no questions. Your job is to follow instructions and signal discomfort. Here are the most common exchanges, grouped by what is happening.

Examination phase:

Dentist: Ouvrez la bouche. (Open your mouth.) You: silent compliance. Dentist: Ouvrez plus grand. (Open wider.) You: gesture. Dentist: Ça fait mal ici? (Does it hurt here?) You: Oui, un peu. (Yes, a little.) or Non, pas là. (No, not there.) Dentist: Mordez. (Bite down.) You: silent compliance. Dentist: Serrez les dents. (Clench your teeth.) You: silent compliance.

Treatment phase:

Dentist: Ne bougez pas. (Do not move.) Dentist: On va faire une anesthésie. Vous allez sentir une petite piqûre. (We are going to do anesthesia. You will feel a small pinch.) Dentist: Rincez-vous la bouche. (Rinse your mouth.) Dentist: Recrachez. (Spit out.) Dentist: Vous sentez encore quelque chose? (Do you still feel something?) You: Je sens une pression mais pas de douleur. (I feel pressure but no pain.)

Keeping control of the situation:

These phrases let you pause treatment or ask for help:

• Attendez, s’il vous plaît. Wait, please.
• J’ai besoin d’une pause. I need a break.
• Je ne comprends pas. I do not understand.
• Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement? Please repeat more slowly.
• Levez la main si vous avez mal, d’accord? Raise your hand if it hurts, okay? (The dentist says this; you nod.)

Use stressé if you identify as male and stressée if you identify as female: Je suis un peu stressé / stressée. I am a little stressed.

Practicing the sounds in bouche, douleur, and couronne before your visit will help.

How do you handle cost, insurance, and payment in French?

Cost and insurance conversations at a French dental clinic revolve around five terms: un devis (estimate), un remboursement (reimbursement), une carte Vitale (health insurance card), une mutuelle (complementary insurance), and une facture (invoice/bill).

If you are not part of the French health system, say this at reception: Je n’ai pas de carte Vitale. Je suis étranger / étrangère. Est-ce que je peux avoir une facture pour mon assurance? (I do not have a carte Vitale. I am a foreigner. May I have an invoice for my insurance?)

Ameli, the French public health insurance portal, explains reimbursement rates for dental consultations and routine care (soins dentaires), including specific rates for crowns (couronnes dentaires), bridges, and removable prostheses (prothèses amovibles).

Phrases for the payment conversation:

• Est-ce que vous prenez la carte bancaire? Do you take bank cards?
• Combien ça coûte? How much does it cost?
• Quels sont les honoraires pour cette consultation? What are the fees for this consultation?
• Est-ce que je dois payer maintenant? Do I need to pay now?
• Est-ce que je peux avoir un devis avant le traitement? May I have an estimate before treatment?
• Pouvez-vous m’envoyer la facture par e-mail? Please send me the invoice by email.
• Je voudrais réfléchir avant de décider. I would like to think before deciding.

For prosthetic work such as crowns, bridges, and implants, French law requires the dentist to provide a written estimate (devis) before beginning treatment. Ameli confirms that the devis must detail the treatment, the materials, and the cost to the patient. If the clinic does not offer one, ask: Est-ce que je peux avoir un devis avant de commencer? (May I have an estimate before we begin?)

If you need to send a follow-up email to the clinic about billing or scheduling, the guide on how to write an email in French covers formal openings, closings, and polite request structures that apply directly to medical correspondence.

What French phrases do you need in a dental emergency?

In a dental emergency, clarity beats fluency. Lead with C’est urgent (It is urgent), name the problem in two or three words, and ask for the earliest appointment. If the pain is severe outside clinic hours or you suspect a medical emergency, call 15 for SAMU (Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente) or 112 for the European emergency number. The French government lists 15, 17 (police), and 18 (fire/rescue) as the primary emergency numbers.

Emergency call script

Bonjour, c’est urgent. J’ai une douleur très forte à une dent depuis hier soir. Ma joue est gonflée. Est-ce que vous avez un créneau en urgence aujourd’hui?

Hello, it is urgent. I have very strong pain in a tooth since last night. My cheek is swollen. Do you have an urgent time slot today?

Key emergency terms

• Une dent cassée: a broken tooth. J’ai cassé une dent en mangeant. I broke a tooth while eating.
• Une dent qui bouge: a loose tooth. J’ai une dent qui bouge après un choc. I have a loose tooth after an impact.
• Un abcès: an abscess. Je pense avoir un abcès, il y a une bosse sur la gencive. I think I have an abscess; there is a bump on my gum.
• Un saignement qui ne s’arrête pas: bleeding that will not stop. Le saignement ne s’arrête pas depuis une heure. The bleeding has not stopped for an hour.
• Un gonflement: swelling. Ma joue est très gonflée. My cheek is very swollen.

Other urgent phrases

• Je ne peux pas dormir à cause de la douleur. I cannot sleep because of the pain.
• Est-ce que je dois aller aux urgences? Should I go to the emergency room?
• Pouvez-vous me conseiller en attendant? Can you advise me in the meantime?

For emergency calls, speak slowly and repeat the key nouns: urgence, douleur forte, dent cassée, gonflement. The person on the phone will understand these even if your grammar is imperfect. If you want to prepare for a high-stress call without panic, ask a private French tutor to simulate an emergency reception call, interrupt you with rapid questions, and force you to repeat your phone number and address under pressure. That kind of drill builds a reflex that reading alone never will.

Build your dentist visit script and practice it live

Every dentist visit in French comes down to a few sentences: where it hurts, how long, what makes it worse, and what you want to know about the treatment. Build your script from the phrases in this guide, then practice it aloud until you stop translating word by word.

Live speaking practice lets a tutor play the receptionist, the dentist, and the billing clerk while correcting your pronunciation and word choice in real time. That gives you a conversation partner who can hear the difference between your douleur and your doulour and fix it before the appointment.

Learn French faster with personalized guidance from qualified French tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide.Book a trial lesson and run through the exact dentist scenario you are preparing for.

FAQ

What is toothache in French?

Toothache is un mal de dents. Use J’ai mal aux dents for general tooth pain or J’ai mal à une dent to point to one specific tooth.

How do you say cavity in French?

A cavity is une carie. The dentist will say Vous avez une carie (You have a cavity), and the treatment is usually un plombage (a filling).

How do you say dental cleaning in French?

Dental cleaning is un détartrage. To book one, say Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous pour un détartrage.

How do you say dentist appointment in French?

A dentist appointment is un rendez-vous chez le dentiste. Example: J’ai rendez-vous chez le dentiste à 14 heures (I have a dentist appointment at 2 p.m.).

What should I say if I do not understand the dentist?

Say Je ne comprends pas. Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement, s’il vous plaît? This means I do not understand. Please repeat more slowly.