Vocabulary
dentist
dental hygienist
dentist’s chair
rubber gloves
x-ray
lead apron
scrubs
drill
pick
checkup
toothache
tooth decay
cavity (caries)
filling
amalgam
bad breath (halitosis)
tartar / dental calculus
plaque
gingivitis
periodontal disease
impacted tooth
chipped tooth
straight teeth / crooked teeth
braces
orthodontist
caps
whitening
extraction
root canal
crown
injection
anesthetic / Novocain
numb
saliva
jaw
gums
incisor
cuspid / canine teeth
bicuspid
molar
wisdom teeth
teething
baby teeth
permanent teeth
dentures
bridge
implant
impression
fluoride
brush
floss
toothpaste
mouthwash
bite down
open wide
rinse
spit
move your teeth from side to side / back and forth
1. Why do people go to the dentist?
2. What is the boy in the picture doing?
3. Why do people often avoid going to the dentist?
4. How often should you get a checkup?
5. What does the dentist or hygienist look for during a checkup?
6. How can the dentist find very small cavities that are hard to see during a checkup?
7. What can you do to help prevent cavities?
8. What happens if you have a cavity?
9. When the dentist fills a cavity, what does he do first?
10. What are fillings made of?
11. What happens if your tooth has a cavity that’s too big?
12. What can you do if you lose a tooth?
13. What can you do if you lose several teeth?
14. What are some other things that the dentist can find wrong with your teeth or mouth?
15. Whom can you see if you have crooked teeth?
16. How can the orthodontist help you get straight teeth?
17. How does a baby get teeth?
18. What happens eventually to baby teeth?
19. What are some things that different cultures do with baby teeth that have fallen out?
20. What are the last adult teeth to come in?
Paragraph: A Visit to the Dentist
Most people have gone to the dentist at one time or another. How are your teeth? Do you have strong teeth, or are you prone to cavities? Do you avoid going to the dentist, or do you make sure to get regular checkups?