Spanish Phrases for Your Dental Appointment
You don't need to be fluent—just prepared. Here's everything you might need to say.
Most dental clinics catering to international patients have English-speaking staff. But knowing some Spanish—especially for pain, concerns, and basic needs—makes everything smoother. Your dentist will appreciate the effort, and you'll feel more in control of your care.
Save this page to your phone. You'll thank yourself mid-appointment.
At Reception
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I have an appointment | Tengo una cita | TEN-go OO-na SEE-ta |
| My name is... | Me llamo... | may YAH-mo |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? | AH-bla een-GLAYS |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño? | DOHN-day es-TAH el BAH-nyo |
| I need to fill out forms | Necesito llenar formularios | neh-say-SEE-toh yeh-NAR for-moo-LAH-ree-ohs |
Describing Pain & Symptoms
The most important phrases—when something hurts, you need to communicate clearly.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| It hurts | Me duele | may DWEH-lay |
| Stop please | Pare por favor | PAH-ray por fah-VOR |
| I feel pain | Siento dolor | see-EN-toh doh-LOR |
| A little pain | Un poco de dolor | oon POH-koh day doh-LOR |
| A lot of pain | Mucho dolor | MOO-cho doh-LOR |
| Sharp pain | Dolor agudo | doh-LOR ah-GOO-doh |
| Dull pain | Dolor sordo | doh-LOR SOR-doh |
| I feel pressure | Siento presión | see-EN-toh preh-see-OHN |
| It's sensitive to cold | Es sensible al frío | ess sen-SEE-blay al FREE-oh |
| It's sensitive to hot | Es sensible al calor | ess sen-SEE-blay al kah-LOR |
| I need more anesthesia | Necesito más anestesia | neh-say-SEE-toh mahs ah-nes-TAY-see-ah |
| I'm not numb | No estoy dormido/a | no es-TOY dor-MEE-doh/dah |
Quick Hand Signals:
- Raise your hand = universal "stop" signal
- Thumbs up = I'm okay, continue
- Thumbs down = Something's wrong
- Point to area = It hurts here
Dental Terms
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Tooth / Teeth | Diente / Dientes |
| Molar | Muela |
| Front tooth | Diente delantero |
| Gums | Encías |
| Crown | Corona |
| Veneer | Carilla |
| Implant | Implante |
| Root canal | Endodoncia / Tratamiento de conducto |
| Filling | Empaste / Relleno |
| Extraction | Extracción |
| Cleaning | Limpieza |
| Whitening | Blanqueamiento |
| X-ray | Radiografía |
| Anesthesia | Anestesia |
| Temporary | Provisional / Temporal |
| Permanent | Permanente / Definitivo |
Questions to Ask
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| How much will it cost? | ¿Cuánto va a costar? |
| How long will it take? | ¿Cuánto tiempo va a tomar? |
| When is my next appointment? | ¿Cuándo es mi próxima cita? |
| What material will you use? | ¿Qué material va a usar? |
| Is this included in the price? | ¿Esto está incluido en el precio? |
| What should I avoid eating? | ¿Qué debo evitar comer? |
| When can I eat normally? | ¿Cuándo puedo comer normal? |
| Can I fly tomorrow? | ¿Puedo volar mañana? |
| What's the warranty? | ¿Cuál es la garantía? |
During the Procedure
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I'm okay | Estoy bien |
| I need a break | Necesito un descanso |
| I need to rinse | Necesito enjuagar |
| Can I sit up? | ¿Puedo sentarme? |
| I feel dizzy | Me siento mareado/a |
| I feel nauseous | Tengo náuseas |
| I'm nervous | Estoy nervioso/a |
| Continue | Continúe |
Medical History Terms
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I'm allergic to... | Soy alérgico/a a... |
| Penicillin | Penicilina |
| I take medication for... | Tomo medicamento para... |
| Blood pressure | Presión arterial |
| Diabetes | Diabetes |
| Heart problems | Problemas del corazón |
| Blood thinner | Anticoagulante |
| I'm pregnant | Estoy embarazada |
Generally Useful Phrases
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Gracias |
| Please | Por favor |
| Yes / No | Sí / No |
| I don't understand | No entiendo |
| Please repeat | Repita por favor |
| Slower please | Más lento por favor |
| Can you write it down? | ¿Puede escribirlo? |
| Excellent | Excelente |
Pro Tips
- Download Google Translate offline. Go to Settings → Offline translation → Spanish. Works without internet.
- Screenshot this page. Have it ready on your phone during appointments.
- Practice "Me duele" and "Pare." These are your most important phrases.
- Hand signals work. When your mouth is full of dental equipment, pointing and thumbs up/down communicate clearly.
- Don't be embarrassed. Any effort at Spanish is appreciated. Even "Gracias" with a smile goes a long way.
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