How To Say Cavity In Spanish

When visiting a dentist in a Spanish-speaking country or communicating with a Spanish-speaking patient, knowing the precise vocabulary for dental issues is essential. Because of that, the most common and direct translation for cavity in Spanish is caries. Even so, depending on the region, the context, and whether you are speaking clinically or colloquially, several other terms are frequently used. Mastering these variations ensures clear communication during dental emergencies, routine check-ups, or hygiene discussions.

The Primary Term: Caries

In almost every Spanish-speaking country, the standard medical and everyday term for a dental cavity is caries (pronounced kah-ree-ehs). It functions as a singular noun in Spanish grammar, even though it ends in 's', which often confuses English speakers accustomed to plural endings Nothing fancy..

• Usage: Tengo caries. (I have a cavity.)
• Clinical context: La caries dental es una enfermedad infecciosa. (Dental caries is an infectious disease.)

Worth pointing out that in professional dentistry, caries refers to the disease process itself, while the resulting hole in the tooth is technically the cavidad (cavity), though patients almost universally use caries for both the condition and the hole.

Regional Variations and Colloquialisms

Spanish varies significantly across continents. While caries is universally understood, you will encounter distinct regional preferences Small thing, real impact..

Mexico and Central America: Picadura

In Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and surrounding regions, the word picadura (literally "bite" or "sting") is the dominant colloquial term. A patient will rarely say Tengo caries; they will almost always say:

• Me duele la muela, creo que tengo una picadura. (My molar hurts, I think I have a cavity.)
• El dentista me tapó la picadura. (The dentist filled my cavity.)

The Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay): Caries and Hueco

In the Rioplatense region, caries remains the standard medical term. On the flip side, colloquially, people often refer to the physical hole as a hueco (hole/gap).

• Tengo un hueco en el diente. (I have a hole in my tooth.)
• Se me cayó el empaste y me quedó un hueco. (My filling fell out and left a hole.)

Spain: Caries and Empaste

In Spain, caries is the universal term. The focus often shifts quickly to the solution: the empaste (filling).

• Me tengo que hacer un empaste. (I need to get a filling.)
• La caries está muy profunda. (The cavity is very deep.)

The Caribbean: Cavidad (Anglicism Influence)

Due to proximity to the United States and Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory, the anglicism cavidad is sometimes heard in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba), though caries and picadura remain more standard. It is generally considered "Spanglish" and less correct in formal medical Spanish But it adds up..

Essential Dental Vocabulary for Context

Knowing the word for cavity is only the starting point. To work through a dental appointment effectively, you need the surrounding ecosystem of vocabulary.

Tooth Anatomy

• Diente (Tooth) – General term.
• Muela (Molar/Back tooth) – Crucial distinction; cavities happen most often here.
• Muela del juicio (Wisdom tooth).
• Incisivo / Canino / Premolar (Incisor / Canine / Premolar).
• Esmalte (Enamel).
• Dentina (Dentin).
• Nervio / Pulpa (Nerve / Pulp).
• Encía (Gum).

Symptoms and Sensations

Describing how the cavity feels helps the dentist diagnose the depth.

• Dolor de muelas / Odontalgia (Toothache).
• Sensibilidad (Sensitivity) – Al frío (to cold), al calor (to heat), a lo dulce (to sweets).
• Dolor punzante (Sharp/Shooting pain).
• Dolor sordo / pulsátil (Dull / Throbbing pain).
• Mal aliento / Halitosis (Bad breath).
• Sabor desagradable (Bad taste).

Procedures and Treatments

Once the caries is identified, these are the words you will hear next Worth keeping that in mind..

• Empaste / Obturación / Restauración (Filling / Restoration). Empaste is the most common patient word; obturación is more clinical.
• Endodoncia / Tratamiento de conductos (Root canal).
• Corona / Funda (Crown / Cap).
• Extracción / Sacar la muela (Extraction / Pulling the tooth).
• Anestesia local (Local anesthesia).
• Radiografía / Placa (X-ray).
• Limpieza dental / Profilaxis (Dental cleaning).

Materials

• Amalgama (Amalgam/Silver filling).
• Resina / Composite (Composite/White filling).
• Ionómero de vidrio (Glass ionomer).

Grammatical Structures for the Dental Chair

Spanish grammar requires specific structures to express "I have a cavity" or "The cavity hurts" correctly Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

1. Tener (To have) + Noun

This is the standard way to state possession of a condition.

• Tengo caries. (I have a cavity.)
• Tengo una picadura en la muela del juicio. (I have a cavity in my wisdom tooth.)
• Mi hijo tiene caries en los dientes de leche. (My son has cavities in his baby teeth.)

2. Doler (To hurt) – The "Backwards" Verb

Like gustar, doler conjugates based on the thing causing the pain, not the person feeling it. Use the Indirect Object Pronoun (me, te, le, nos, les) And that's really what it comes down to. That alone is useful..

• Me duele la muela. (My molar hurts / The molar hurts to me.)
• Me duelen los dientes. (My teeth hurt – plural subject.)
• ¿Le duele al masticar? (Does it hurt when you chew? – Formal/Usted).

3. Ser vs. Estar with Conditions

• Use Ser for permanent characteristics or diagnoses: La caries es profunda. (The cavity is deep.)
• Use Estar for current states or locations: El diente está picado. (The tooth is decayed/cavitated - current state.) La caries está cerca del nervio. (The cavity is near the nerve - location.)

4. Reflexive Verbs for Hygiene

• Me cepillo los dientes tres veces al día. (I brush my teeth three times a day.)
• Me lavo los dientes. (I wash/clean my teeth.)
• Me paso el hilo dental. (I floss.)

The "False Friend" Alert: Cavidad

A critical error English speakers make is translating "cavity" directly to cavidad.

• Cavidad exists in Spanish, but it means "cavity" in the anatomical or geometric sense (a hollow space) Simple, but easy to overlook..

• Caries is the correct medical and colloquial term for the disease process and the lesion itself (the "hole" caused by decay).

Correct usage:

• El dentista encontró una caries. (The dentist found a cavity.)
• Tengo caries. (I have cavities/decay.)

Incorrect usage:

• Tengo una cavidad en el diente. (Sounds like you have an anatomical void or a sinus cavity in your tooth.)

Essential Phrases for the Appointment

For the Patient (Describing the Problem)

• “Me duele aquí.” (It hurts here.) Point to the area.
• “Tengo sensibilidad al frío / al calor / a los dulces.” (I have sensitivity to cold / heat / sweets.)
• “Me duele al morder / al masticar.” (It hurts when I bite / chew.)
• “Se me rompió un diente / una muela.” (I broke a tooth / a molar.)
• “Se me cayó el empaste / la corona.” (My filling / crown fell out.)
• “Me sangran las encías al cepillarme.” (My gums bleed when I brush.)
• “Tengo mal sabor de boca / mal aliento.” (I have a bad taste in my mouth / bad breath.)
• “Me duele la mandíbula / la articulación.” (My jaw / joint hurts.)

For the Patient (Asking Questions)

• “¿Es una caries grande / profunda?” (Is it a large / deep cavity?)
• “¿Necesito una endodoncia o solo un empaste?” (Do I need a root canal or just a filling?)
• “¿Me va a doler?” (Is it going to hurt?)
• “¿Me pone anestesia?” (Will you give me anesthesia / numb me?)
• “¿Cuánto tiempo tarda?” (How long does it take?)
• “¿Cuál es el precio / presupuesto?” (What is the price / estimate?)
• “¿Puedo pagar a plazos / con tarjeta?” (Can I pay in installments / by card?)

Understanding the Dentist (Common Instructions)

• “Abra la boca, por favor.” (Open your mouth, please.)
• “Cierre la boca / muerda suavemente.” (Close your mouth / bite down gently.)
• “No cierre del todo.” (Don't close all the way.)
• “Gire la cabeza hacia la derecha / izquierda.” (Turn your head right / left.)
• “Enjuáguese / Haga un boche.” (Rinse / Swish and spit.)
• “Escupa aquí.” (Spit here.)
• “Levanté la mano si siente dolor.” (Raise your hand if you feel pain.)
• “Va a sentir un pinchazo / presión.” (You will feel a pinch / pressure.)
• “No coma ni beba en una / dos horas.” (Don't eat or drink for one / two hours.)
• “Tome este antibiótico / antiinflamatorio cada 8 horas.” (Take this antibiotic / anti-inflammatory every 8 hours.)

Prevention Vocabulary: Prevención e Higiene

To avoid the drill (la turbina / el torno) entirely, master this hygiene lexicon Turns out it matters..

• Cepillo de dientes (Toothbrush) – Cepillo eléctrico (Electric toothbrush).
• Pasta dentífrica / Pasta de dientes (Toothpaste) – Con flúor (With fluoride).
• Hilo dental / Seda dental (Dental floss).
• Cepillo interdental (Interdental brush).
• Irrigador bucal / Waterpik (Water flosser).
• Colutorio / Enjuague bucal (Mouthwash).
• Raspador de lengua (Tongue scraper).
• Placa bacteriana / Biofilm (Dental plaque).
• Sarro / Cálculo dental (Tartar / Calculus).
• Fluoración / Aplicación de flúor (Fluoride treatment).
• Selladores / Sellado de fisuras (Dental sealants).

A Note on Regional Variations

While the clinical terms (caries, endodoncia, amalgama, profilaxis) are standard across the Hispanic world, the "waiting room" vocabulary shifts significantly:

Regional nuances in terminology

Below is an expanded view of the lexical differences that patients and clinicians encounter across Spanish‑speaking territories. The clinical core (caries, endodoncia, empaste, profilaxis) remains constant, but everyday expressions shift according to local habits and colloquial preferences And that's really what it comes down to..

Additional regional expressions worth noting

• Spain: “Molar” (molar tooth) is often used interchangeably with “diente posterior”. The word “tornillo” may appear when referring to a temporary filling.
• Mexico: “Mueble” is not used for teeth; instead “diente” or “muela” dominate. The term “cariado” is colloquial for “cavitated”.
• Argentina/Uruguay: “Boca” can mean both mouth and dental arch; “diente postizo” refers to a denture rather than a crown.
• Chile: “Hoyo” is a common slang for a cavity (“tengo un hoyo”).
• Colombia: “Endodoncia” is sometimes shortened to “radicación” in informal conversation.

Practical phrases for the consultation

Beyond the basic questions already listed, patients frequently need to convey more nuanced information:

• Describing pain intensity: “Siento un dolor constante de 7 sobre 10” (I feel constant pain rated 7 out of 10).
• Reporting sensitivity: “El diente se vuelve sensible al frío y al dulce” (The tooth becomes sensitive to cold and sweet).
• Requesting a written estimate: “¿Podría darme un presupuesto por escrito?” (Could you give me a written estimate?).
• Asking about alternatives: “¿Existen opciones menos invasivas que una endodoncia?” (Are there less invasive options than a root canal?).
• Expressing anxiety: “Tengo mucho miedo del procedimiento” (I am very afraid of the procedure).

Dentists typically respond with reassurance, a clear explanation of the steps, and, when appropriate, a discussion of sedation options (analgesia, anestesia local, o sedación ligera) And that's really what it comes down to..

Tips for patients learning the dental vocabulary

1. Create flashcards with the Spanish term on one side and an English translation plus a simple illustration on the other.
2. Listen to dental podcasts produced in Spain, Mexico, or Argentina; the rhythm of speech helps internalize the most common collocations.
3. Practice role‑play with a friend: one acts as the dentist, the other as the patient, using the phrases from the “Consultation” section.
4. Keep a pocket notebook in the waiting room; jotting down unfamiliar words you hear during the appointment reinforces retention.

Conclusion

Mastering the Spanish terminology used in dental settings empowers patients to communicate their needs clearly, understand treatment plans, and participate actively in their oral‑health decisions. While core clinical words such as caries, endodoncia and empaste are universally recognized, regional variations in everyday expressions—ranging from “hoyo” in Chile to “cariado” in Mexico—add a cultural layer that enriches the dialogue. By familiarizing oneself with the essential questions, procedural instructions, preventive vocabulary, and the subtle differences across Spanish‑speaking countries, a patient can manage any dental appointment with confidence, ask informed questions, and maintain optimal oral hygiene long after leaving the clinic.