Knowing the right terminology makes visiting the dentist easier. Let's look at how to describe dental issues and follow common instructions.
Common Dental Issues
When you have a toothache, the dentist will usually look for a cavity (karijes).
| If you have a cavity, the dentist can fix it quickly. | Ako imate karijes, zubar ga može brzo popraviti. |
You might also need to discuss your gums (desni). Note that desni is a feminine plural noun. If your gums are sensitive, they might bleed (krvariti), which could mean you need a new toothbrush (četkica).
| If the gums bleed, you must buy a new toothbrush. | Ako desni krvare, morate kupiti novu četkicu. |
Treatments and Procedures
If there is a problem, the dentist might need to take an x-ray (snimka).
| If the filling falls out, you must take a new x-ray. | Ako ispadne plomba, morate napraviti novu snimku. |
To treat a cavity, you will likely need a filling (plomba). You can also discuss whether you want local anesthesia (anestezija).
| Can you put a filling without anesthesia? | Možete li staviti plombu bez anestezije? |
Following Instructions
During the procedure, the dentist will often ask you to adjust your jaw (čeljust). Like desni, čeljust is a feminine noun ending in a consonant.
| Can you move your jaw a little to the left? | Možete li pomaknuti čeljust malo lijevo? |
After receiving a treatment or an injection (injekcija), the final step is usually to rinse (isprati) your mouth.
| Now you can rinse your mouth with cold water. | Sada možete isprati usta hladnom vodom. |