The phone is ringing

Doctor: Dental surgery, how can I help you?

Patient: Hello, I would like to schedule a doctor’s appointment for my daughter. I’ve heard that you treat little kids, and my daughter is three years old and I think she has decayed teeth.

Doctor: Yes, I do treat little children. Does your child have a toothache?

Patient: No, it doesn’t hurt, but I noticed dark spots on her front teeth, and it worries me. I had a similar problem with my son when he was the same age as my daughter.

Doctor: I see. Is Monday 11.00 a.m. suitable for you?

Patient: Oh, is it possible to meet in the afternoon? Unfortunately, I have to work in the morning, and I would like to come with her. My husband is also very busy on Monday.

Doctor: Good. How about 5.30 p.m.?

Patient: Yes. It’s perfect. At this time we will be able to come in your office.

The visit

Patient: Hello, I have an appointment for my daughter for today at 5.30.

Doctor: Good morning. Please sit down in the waiting room and wait about 15 minutes until I finish the appointment with a patient who came with a sudden toothache.

Patient: Of course I’ll wait. Thank you.

after a quarter

Doctor: Hello! What is your name?

Child: Ola.

Doctor: Ola, sit in the chair right here. I’ve heard that you’re at a dental office for the first time, aren’t you?

Child: Yes, I am.

Doctor  (to Ola’s mother): What worries you, Madam?

Patient: My daughter does not complain about anything, but I’ve noticed dark spots on her front teeth. Is it decay?

Doctor: Please open your mouth wide. I would like to have a look at your teeth. Well, yes, I can see some cavities and they seem not to be too shallow. At this stage, unfortunately, I will have to have them processed and filled.

Patient: I was afraid of that. But why have they formed? We take care of Ola’s teeth.

Doctor: Does your daughter brush her  teeth in the morning and evening?

Patient: Yes, she does, after breakfast and after dinner.

Doctor:  Does she eat sweets?

Patient: Well, in fact, she does not. Once a week we let her have sweets, then she has to wash her teeth thoroughly. We had to go to dentist quite often with our son, that’s why we decided that with our daughter we will limit sweets.

Doctor: Hmm. So maybe she drinks sweet beverages?

Patient: Well, yes she does. We give her juices to drink. She does not want any water. Even at night when she wakes up she gets a bottle of juice and then she goes back to sleep.

Doctor: I see. This is the cause of dental caries in all incisors. Sweet juice mustn’t be given to children particularly at night. Please, get her accustomed to drink water or unsweetened tea. And how long does your daughter clean her teeth for?

Patient: I do not exactly know. Maybe a minute?

Doctor: Children should brush their teeth at least three minutes, preferably after each meal. Please do it together with your child, because at that age children are not able to effectively brush the teeth themselves. On your next visit bring your toothbrush, please. I’ll show your child, and of course you, how to brush your teeth properly. You will need to ensure that your daughter brushes her teeth in such way, and for at least 3 minutes. And today I will do one filling, because I think your daughter will not be able to sit in a chair much longer. Anyway, I do not want to discourage her from dental visits.

Patient: Thank you. I am glad that I know what made her teeth decayed and that she’ll have one tooth filled today.

Doctor: Well, yes. And now please sit in the waiting room and wait. If I need your help, I will ask you to dental office. Anyway, I’ll leave the door open.

Patient: OK.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Complete the sentences with words which match the context. One dash stands for one letter.

1. Tooth decay is the result of an infection with certain types of bacteria that use sugars in food to make A ...............  S. 

2. ……R ……S is another name for cavities.

3. The termbaby B …………E caries refers to the fact that children who are put to bed with, or who suck too frequently on baby bottles filled with sweet substances like fruit juice, frequently develop tooth decay.

4. Tooth decay is not caused by  …R ……S …milk or prolonged breastfeeding.

5. One of the first symptoms of caries is toothache and visible D ……………O U ……D spots on teeth.

6. Children are more P …………to cavities than children as the enamel is immature.

7. The number of cavities can be reduced by proper N U ………………N, good oral hygiene, fewer S …………S in between meals, the use of oral or topical fluorides, and topicalS ……L ………S.

8. Sealants are …E ………………D …D for all permanent molars in children. 

9. A new F ……………G material that is increasing in popularity is porcelain.

10. It is advised to clean baby’s or T …D ………’s teeth after every feeding or meal, starting from their teeth’s first emergence.

Read the text about dental sealants. Complete it with words from the table.

One highly effective 1)…………………………to help prevent cavities is dental sealants. Dental sealant is a thin plastic film painted on the chewing 2)………………………of teeth.

Dental sealants have been proven to be a safe and 3)…………………………dental procedure for patients prone to cavities.

Studies show that many children are 4)……………………candidates for dental sealants. Parents should consider sealants as a 5)………………………………measure in their child’s oral health and discuss this option with their dentist.

Surveys show the majority of all cavities occur in the narrow pits and 6)…………………………of a child’s newly erupted teeth because food particles and bacteria are not easily cleaned out. Dental sealants act as a 7)………………………………to “seal-off” space between the tooth surface and any small food particles or bacteria that may otherwise cause a cavity in an “unsealed” tooth.

Paired with twice-daily 8)……………………………with a fluoridated toothpaste, a healthy 9)………………………and visiting the dentist twice a year to monitor the sealants’ placement or bond on the tooth, properly applied dental sealants are 100-percent effective in preventing cavities.

Match words and definitions

Lesson 42 answers