If your mom or dad speaks mostly Spanish, a short list of Spanish–English phrases can make a dental visit much easier: “Necesito un intérprete” (I need an interpreter), “Me duele aquí” (It hurts here) and “¿Me da el presupuesto por escrito?” (Can I have a written estimate?). You also do not have to interpret everything yourself. Many hospitals, clinics and health plans that receive federal funds must offer language help at no cost, so always ask whether an interpreter is available.
Being the family translator is a lot of pressure, especially when a parent is in pain. This page and the printable sheet are here to share the load.
Free printable guide
Spanish–English phrases for a dental visit: a two-column sheet, Spanish and English, for booking a visit, calling the insurer, describing pain, talking about money and understanding aftercare (3 pages, PDF).
The sheet works at the dental office, in the emergency room, at urgent care and on the phone with the insurer. It has six parts: booking a visit, the front desk, describing pain, during treatment, money and paperwork, and after treatment. Spanish is on the left and English on the right, so your parent can point and the staff can read.
Need single words, like crown, bridge, deductible or X-ray? Those are in our Spanish–English dental glossary. This page focuses on complete sentences your parent can say or point to.
In Spanish, a toothache is usually dolor de muela (for a back tooth) or dolor de diente. Your parent might say “Tengo dolor de muela” (I have a toothache) or “Me duelen las encías” (my gums hurt).
According to the MedlinePlus entry on toothaches, the provider will usually ask when the pain started, where it is and how bad it is, whether it wakes them at night, what makes it better or worse, which medicines they take and whether they have other symptoms, such as fever. Go over the answers at home:
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination in health programs that receive federal funds. Many hospitals, clinics and health plans fall in that group. The rule that carries it out says these programs must give people with limited English language help at no cost that is accurate and timely (45 CFR § 92.201).
The HHS Office for Civil Rights fact sheet “Know Your Rights: Language Access” sums it up:
Not every dental office is covered by this rule; it depends on whether it receives federal funds. So the practical step is to ask whether an interpreter is available when you book. MedlinePlus gives the same advice: if the provider does not speak your language, call ahead and ask for an interpreter.
If they are not using insurance, they generally have the right to a Good Faith Estimate if they ask for one or schedule at least 3 business days ahead. If the bill comes in $400 or more above the estimate, they can dispute it (CMS). With insurance, still ask for the estimate in writing. We explain copays, deductibles and annual maximums in dental deductible, copay and annual maximum, explained.
Help your parent book a dental visit if:
When not to wait: if their face is swollen or they have a fever, call the dentist the same day. The NIDCR explains that an infected tooth can form an abscess that causes pain, facial swelling and fever. If they have trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the emergency room. More in toothache: what to do today.
PureSmile Miami opens on November 2, 2026, at 8000 SW 117th Ave, Suite 100, in Kendall. Our team is bilingual, so your parent can speak Spanish from check-in to checkout, with no interpreter needed, and you can follow along in English. At the first visit, our dentist explains what they see with the X-rays in front of you both. We verify insurance for free and give you a written treatment plan before we start. You are welcome in the room, as family, not as the translator.
Join the waitlist or call us at (305) 787-3642.
Dolor de muela or dolor de diente. A full sentence is “Tengo dolor de muela.” To show where: “Me duele aquí.”
Health programs that receive federal funds must offer language help at no cost under Section 1557. Not every dental office is in that group, so ask about an interpreter when you book.
You can be there for support, but according to HHS your parent does not have to rely on a family member to interpret. Where the rule applies, staff should not use a minor child as an interpreter except in an emergency.
Relleno (in Spain and some countries, empaste). A crown is corona and a root canal is tratamiento de canal. More words are in our dental glossary.
Copago, and coinsurance is coseguro. To ask what they will pay: “¿Cuánto pago yo?”
Agree on a signal before treatment, like raising a hand, and have them say: “Si levanto la mano, pare, por favor.” To ask for a break: “Necesito un descanso.”
General information; not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Sources: HHS Office for Civil Rights (Know Your Rights: Language Access); 45 CFR § 92.201; MedlinePlus (Talking With Your Doctor; Toothaches); NIDCR (Tooth Decay); MouthHealthy (ADA); CMS (Good Faith Estimate). Yoan Suárez Zayas, DMD · FL Lic. DN 21413.
