Episode 352
Listen to the Episode
Listen once for the main idea. Then use the transcript and repeat useful sentences aloud.
Download and study
Episode Resources
Download a file or continue to the transcript.
Best order: listen once, read while listening, then listen again without the text.
Full lesson
Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm back with a new episode. I'm here to help you speak English more easily and with confidence.
Great! Let's start!
I’ll be honest with you—I don’t really enjoy going to the dentist. I think most people feel the same way. It can be a little scary, right? Now imagine you’re not speaking your native language. If you already feel nervous about the dentist, trying to explain everything in English can make the experience even more stressful.
So today, let’s go step by step and learn some useful phrases you can use before, during, and after your visit to the dentist.
Booking an Appointment
The first step is usually calling or talking to the receptionist. That’s when you can say things like:
“Hi, I’d like to book a dental check-up.”
“Do you have any openings this week?”
“What’s your earliest appointment?”
If you want to be more specific about the time, you can ask:
“Do you have anything in the afternoon?”
“Can I come in on Friday morning?”
Sometimes you may also need to reschedule. You can simply say:
“I’d like to change my appointment.”
Explaining the Problem
This is the part where you need to be clear. If the dentist understands exactly what’s wrong, they can help you better.
For example:
“I have a toothache.”
“My gums are sore.”
“I chipped a tooth.”
“One of my fillings came out.”
“I think I need my wisdom tooth removed.”
And here’s a little tip: if you don’t know the exact word, try to describe the pain. For example:
“It hurts when I eat something cold.”
“I feel pressure in this area.”
During the Visit
Now you’re sitting in the chair. This is when many people feel nervous. I do too. Honestly, it’s not my favorite place to be. And if I had to speak a language I wasn’t comfortable with, I would feel even more nervous.
Here are some phrases you might need:
“Could you check this tooth, please?”
“Will I need an X-ray?”
“Can you numb the area?”
If you feel pain, don’t be afraid to speak up:
“I feel some pain—could you give me more anesthesia?”
You can also ask practical questions, like:
“How long will the treatment take?”
Understanding the Treatment
Sometimes the dentist will explain different options, or they may give you an estimate of the cost. This can feel overwhelming, especially in English. If you need more time, you can say:
“Could you please explain that again?”
“Can I think about it and let you know?”
“Do you have a written estimate?”
These phrases are really useful when you’re not sure you understood everything. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to ask the dentist to repeat or explain again.
Common Treatments
Here are some words you’ll probably hear:
A filling. That’s when the dentist repairs a cavity. You can ask: “Do I need a filling?”
A cleaning. That’s when they polish and clean your teeth. You can say: “I’d like a cleaning, please.”
An extraction. That means the dentist takes a tooth out. You might ask: “Do I need to have this tooth removed?”
After the Visit
Finally, don’t forget to ask about care after the treatment. This is just as important as the treatment itself. For example:
“Do I need antibiotics?”
“How long should I wait before eating?”
“Can I drink coffee today?”
“When should I come back for a follow-up?”
Sometimes the dentist will give you special instructions, like not eating on one side of your mouth, or avoiding certain foods for a few days. If you’re not sure, just ask:
“Could you write that down for me?”
Now, let’s practice.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer the questions aloud with short and quick responses. Repeat the Mini-Story several times to improve your speaking and listening.
Yesterday morning, I woke up with a terrible pain in my mouth. It wasn’t just a little discomfort — it was a strong, horrible toothache.
Did I wake up with pain in my mouth?
Yes, I woke up with pain in my mouth.
What kind of pain did I have?
A strong, horrible toothache.
Was it a headache?
No, it wasn’t a headache. It was a toothache.
Was it weak or strong?
Strong. The pain was strong.
Because the pain was so strong, I decided to call my dentist and ask for an appointment.
Why did I call my dentist?
Because the pain was so strong.
Whom did I call?
My dentist. I called my dentist.
Did I call my dentist or my hairdresser?
My dentist, of course. I didn’t call my hairdresser.
What did I ask for?
An appointment. I asked for an appointment.
The dentist answered and told me: “Come in tomorrow morning. I’ll see you at nine a.m.
Who answered me?
The dentist. The dentist answered me.
What did he tell me?
“Come in tomorrow morning. I’ll see you at nine a.m.”
Did he tell me to come next year?
No, no. Not next year. He told me tomorrow morning.
At what time did he want to see me?
At nine a.m.
The next day, I got in my car and drove to the dentist’s office. It was a short drive, but I felt nervous all the way.
Did I get in a bus?
No, not a bus. I got in my car.
Where did I drive?
To the dentist’s office.
How did I feel during the drive?
Nervous. I felt nervous.
Was the drive long or short?
Short. It was a short drive.
When I arrived, I entered the waiting room. I sat down and suddenly remembered something very important: I had to speak English with the dentist. This made me feel even more nervous than before.
Where did I sit?
In the waiting room. I sat in the waiting room.
What did I remember?
That I had to speak English with the dentist.
Did I have to speak French?
No, not French. English. I had to speak English.
How did I feel after I remembered that? Happy?
No, no. I didn’t feel happy. I felt even more nervous.
Was I more comfortable or less comfortable?
Less comfortable. Much less comfortable.
Finally, the dentist called my name: “Peter!” He called me to come inside.
Who called my name?
The dentist. The dentist called my name.
What did he call?
My name. He called my name.
What did he say?
“Peter!” He said my name.
I went into the dentist’s office, sat in the big chair, and opened my mouth. The dentist looked carefully and said: “You need a filling.”
Where did I sit?
In the big chair.
Who looked at my tooth?
The dentist. The dentist looked at my tooth.
What did he say?
“You need a filling.”
Did he say I need a haircut?
No, not a haircut. A filling.
What did I need?
A filling. I needed a filling.
After a few minutes, the dentist put in the filling and finished the treatment. He told me: “All done. No more pain.”
How long did the dentist work?
A few minutes. He worked a few minutes.
What did he put in my tooth?
A filling. He put in a filling.
What did he say when he finished?
“All done. No more pain.”
Did he say I still had pain?
No, he said no more pain.
When the treatment was over, I felt much better. The toothache was gone, and I finally relaxed.
How did I feel after the treatment?
Much better. I felt much better.
Was the toothache still there?
No, it was gone.
What did I do after the pain was gone?
I relaxed. I finally relaxed.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
dental check-up
a routine examination of your teeth and gums.
opening
an available appointment time.
reschedule
change an appointment to another time.
toothache
pain in or around a tooth.
cavity
a damaged hole in a tooth.
filling
material used to repair a cavity.
numb
temporarily unable to feel part of the body.
treatment
medical or dental care intended to solve a problem.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
0 Comments