Introduction
Although many people don’t like the experience, visiting a dentist regularly is one of the best ways to take care of your teeth. In addition to cleanings, more and more dentists are offering additional care including tooth whitening and orthodontic treatments like braces. You can find other dental services or other practices around the world that are meeting the medical needs of patients. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find related information.
Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
- brush your teeth
- family dental plan
- fill a cavity
- get a dental cleaning
- get fillings put in
- have a dental checkup
- have a dental exam
- have an x-ray
- have braces
- have dental insurance
- have your wisdom teeth pulled
- remove tartar buildup
- set up a dental appointment
- sit in the waiting room
- talk with an orthodontist
- talk with the dental assistant
- use dental floss
- use tooth whitening
- use toothpaste
- visit the dentist
Practice
Follow-Up Activity
Discuss with a partner a past experience at a dentist. Why did you go? What procedures did you have done? Then, use the Internet to locate a dentist in your area. Consider calling to see how much a dental exam would cost. Also, would you have any hesitation to visit a dentist in a foreign country? Why or why not?