Visiting a Dentist in Spain (for English Speakers)

Visiting a Dentist in Spain (for English Speakers)

You are probably reading about this because you are in pain. The best over the counter pain killers are ibrufen and parecetemol. You can buy these at a "farmacia" supermarket etc.  They tend to only come in 500g or 600mg tablets. For some reason it is rare to sell small doses in Spain. However if you have toothache you need a strong dose.  In Spanish they are called  "ibuprofeno" and "el paracetamol". In English we say "para - seat - amol" in Spanish we say "para - thet - amol.  By the way, painkillers are "analgésicos".  In Spain there is always a duty chemist open 24 hours a day.  You might be able to find out where the nearest duty chemist "farmacia de guardia" is on internet. However, if you go to any farmacia they will have the address of the nearest one posted in the window.  I know that if tooth pain comes on really badly you won't be able to sleep.  Years ago you used to be able to get an aspirin in a bar. Try asking for one.  The law about over the counter antibiotics has been tightened up a lot in recent years and if you need some antibiotics you will need to see an actual dentist. 

If you need to see a dentist while in Spain, here's some helpful information for English-speaking tourists:

Finding a Dentist

• Ask your hotel/accommodation: They can often recommend local dentists who speak English.
• Online search: Search for "dentista inglés" or "English-speaking dentist" followed by the city you are in (e.g., "dentista inglés Madrid").
• Embassy/Consulate: Your country's embassy or consulate in Spain might have a list of recommended medical professionals.
• Health insurance: If you have travel insurance, check if it covers dental treatment and if they have a network of dentists in Spain.

Making an Appointment

It's usually best to call ahead to make an appointment. Here are some useful phrases:

• "Hello, do you speak English?" - "Hola, ¿habla inglés?"
• "I would like to make an appointment with a dentist." - "Me gustaría pedir cita con un dentista."
• "I have a dental emergency." - "Tengo una emergencia dental."
• "When is the earliest appointment available?" - "¿Cuándo es la primera cita disponible?"

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

English	Spanish
Dentist	Dentista
Dental clinic/office	Clínica dental/Consultorio dental
Appointment	Cita
Tooth/Teeth	Diente/Dientes
Pain	Dolor
Toothache	Dolor de muelas
Filling	Empaste/Obturación
Extraction/To pull a tooth	Extracción/Sacar una muela/un diente
X-ray	Radiografía
Anesthetic/Numbing injection	Anestesia/Inyección para adormecer
Check-up	Revisión
Cleaning	Limpieza
Cavity/Decay	Caries
Gums	Encías
Broken tooth	Diente roto
Sensitive teeth	Dientes sensibles
I have pain here.	Tengo dolor aquí.
It hurts when I chew.	Me duele cuando mastico.
I need a filling.	Necesito un empaste.

Payment

Most dentists in Spain accept cash and credit cards. It's a good idea to clarify payment methods when making your appointment.

Emergency Dental Care

If you have a dental emergency outside of normal business hours, you can go to a hospital emergency room ("urgencias") or try to find a 24-hour dental clinic.

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Last Modified on April 11th, 2024
Created on November 14th, 2019
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