A Russian–English dental glossary: what they say at the dentist

An American dental office uses a lot of words that exist in the dictionary and still do not make sense. Here are the ones that come up most often, with the Russian equivalent and a human explanation. Bookmark this page, or hand your phone to a relative who is translating for you. With me, of course, you can simply hear all of this in Russian.

People

English	Russian	What it means
Dentist (DDS, DMD)	Стоматолог, врач	Examines, diagnoses, treats. DDS and DMD are the same degree; different universities just name it differently.
Dental hygienist	Гигиенист	A separately licensed profession. Cleans, removes tartar, teaches home care. Not a nurse.
Dental assistant	Ассистент стоматолога	Prepares the room, takes X-rays, helps the dentist during procedures.
Front desk, treatment coordinator	Администратор, координатор лечения	Scheduling, insurance, payment, explaining the treatment plan.
Specialist: endodontist, periodontist, oral surgeon, orthodontist	Эндодонтист, пародонтолог, хирург, ортодонт	Root canals, gums, complex extractions, braces and aligners, respectively.

The visit

English	Russian	What it means
Exam (comprehensive, periodic)	Осмотр (первичный, плановый)	Comprehensive is the detailed first-visit exam; periodic is the short check every six to twelve months.
Cleaning, prophy (prophylaxis)	Профессиональная чистка	A regular cleaning for healthy gums.
Deep cleaning, scaling and root planing	Глубокая (лечебная) чистка	Cleaning below the gumline when there is inflammation. Often split over several visits, with numbing.
X-ray: bitewing, periapical, panoramic (pano), FMX (full mouth series)	Рентген: прикусный, прицельный, панорамный, полная серия	Different images for different jobs. Bitewings find decay between teeth; a panoramic gives the overview; FMX shows every tooth individually.
Treatment plan	План лечения	A written list of procedures with priorities and prices. You are entitled to discuss it and not agree to everything at once.
Consent form	Информированное согласие	The document you sign before a procedure.
Numbing, local anesthesia, “the shot”	Обезболивание, «укол»	Local anesthetic. Numbing gel goes on before the injection.
Sensitivity	Чувствительность	Reaction to cold, heat, or sweets.
Follow-up, recall	Повторный визит, плановый контроль	“You are due for a recall” means it is time for your routine check.

What happens to teeth

English	Russian	What it means
Cavity, decay, caries	Кариес, «дырка»	Tooth breakdown. A small cavity is early; a deep cavity is close to the nerve.
Filling (composite, amalgam)	Пломба (композитная, амальгамная)	Composite is the white filling. Amalgam is silver-colored and rarely placed now.
Crown, cap	Коронка	A cap over the tooth when a filling is no longer enough. Ceramic, zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal are materials.
Root canal, endo	Лечение каналов	Removing an inflamed nerve and sealing the canals. Usually followed by a crown.
Extraction (simple, surgical)	Удаление (простое, хирургическое)	Surgical means the tooth has to be sectioned or taken from under the gum.
Wisdom teeth, third molars	Зубы мудрости	Often removed preventively when there is no room for them.
Implant	Имплант	A titanium root that a crown is placed on. The abutment connects the two.
Bridge	Мост	A fixed replacement supported by the neighboring teeth.
Denture (full, partial)	Протез (полный, частичный)	A removable replacement.
Veneer	Винир	A thin shell on the front surface of a tooth.
Whitening, bleaching	Отбеливание	In-office at the chair, or take-home trays with gel.
Aligners, braces	Элайнеры, брекеты	Straightening teeth with clear trays or classic braces.
Gingivitis, periodontitis, gum disease	Гингивит, пародонтит, болезнь дёсен	Gingivitis is inflammation and reversible. Periodontitis involves bone loss around the tooth.
Bleeding gums	Кровоточивость дёсен	One of the first signs of inflammation.
Night guard, occlusal guard	Ночная капа	For grinding (bruxism) and to protect teeth from wear.
Fluoride, fluoride varnish	Фтор, фторирование	Strengthens enamel. Almost always for children; for adults at higher risk of decay.
Sealant	Герметик (силант)	A protective coating on chewing surfaces, mostly for children.
Abscess, infection, swelling	Абсцесс, воспаление, отёк	Pus, a “gumboil.” Swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow means the hospital, now.
Cracked tooth, chipped tooth	Трещина, скол	A crack does not always show on an X-ray.

Insurance and money

English	Russian	What it means
Insurance, dental plan	Стоматологическая страховка, план	Bought separately from medical insurance.
In-network, out-of-network	В сети, вне сети	Whether the office has a contract with your insurer.
Premium	Взнос	The monthly payment for the plan.
Deductible	Франшиза	What you pay yourself before the plan contributes.
Copay, coinsurance	Ваша доля	Your share of each service.
Annual maximum	Годовой лимит	The ceiling on what the plan pays per year. Everything above it is yours.
Waiting period	Период ожидания	The time after buying a plan before major work is covered.
Pre-treatment estimate, pre-authorization	Предварительная оценка	A request to the insurer before treatment: how much it will pay.
EOB (Explanation of Benefits)	Отчёт страховой	The letter after a visit. “This is not a bill” is true.
Self-pay, cash patient	Пациент без страховки	Pays directly. Accepted at every office.
Estimate, quote	Оценка стоимости	Ask for it in writing, before treatment starts.
Payment plan, financing	Рассрочка, финансирование	Ask what the specific office offers.

Urgent

English	Russian	What it means
Emergency, urgent care visit	Экстренный приём	Acute pain, injury, swelling.
Knocked-out tooth, avulsed tooth	Выбитый зуб	Hold it by the crown, do not scrub the root, put it in milk, and see a dentist immediately.
Lost filling, lost crown	Выпала пломба, слетела коронка	Usually not urgent if it does not hurt. Keep the crown.
Toothache	Зубная боль	When to wait and when to go: see Toothache: urgent, or can it wait?

---

Heard a word that is not here? Write to me. I will explain it and, if it is common, add it to the list.