Friendly Dental Care

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HELPFUL TIP!

"be on edge" = nervous
"My kids are a little on edge because they have an appointment with the dentist."
"couldn't sleep a wink" = not able to sleep well
"My daughter couldn't sleep a wink last night because she was so worried about getting her teeth checked."

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[ Quiz Script | Text Completion Quiz ]

I. Pre-Listening Exercises
II. Listening Exercises
III. Vocabulary
IV. Post-Listening
V. Online Investigations

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
difficult	health care	conversation	two men	01:32

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are some reasons for visiting a dentist (e.g., tooth whitening, dental cleaning, orthodontics, invisalign braces, tooth fillings)? Name some common dental problems and possible preventative care for each.

HELPFUL TIP: Dentists recommend a dental checkup every six months. Regular brushing and flossing will help prevent cavities and save you money from expensive dental bills.

dental exam

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

Listen to the conversation by pressing the "Play Audio" button and answer the questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

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1. What is the man's initial reason for visiting the dentist?
A. He wanted to have a filling replaced.
B. He needed to have a tooth pulled.
C. He came in for a dental check up.

2. What problem does the dentist discover when she takes her first look in the man's mouth?
A. The man has discolored teeth.
B. The man has a chipped front tooth.
C. The man has a decayed back tooth.

3. When does the man feel discomfort?
A. when he chews on hard foods
B. when he eats hot foods
C. when he drinks something cold

4. What is one method of treatment the dentist does NOT mention?
A. doing a root canal
B. putting a filling in
C. pulling the tooth

5. What does the dentist use to minimize the patient's pain during the procedure?
A. a local anesthetic
B. nitrous oxide
C. no medication is needed in this case

Score =
Correct answers:

Listen to the conversation again as you read the Quiz Script.

III. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Review the key vocabulary from the conversation: [ Why do these? ]

III. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

How important is a nice smile in finding a good job or attracting a partner? What dental procedures are available to improve your teeth and smile? Are such procedures worth the cost? Compare different dentists or whitening methods to find the best service. Explain your reasons.

V. Online Investigations - [ What's This? ] [Top]
Receiving proper dental care is essential for good health, but having access to this care isn't available to all people around the world. Use the Internet to identify and find out information about at least two volunteer organizations that provide free dental care to people in need. What is the name of the organization? When was it first created? What types of dental procedures do they provide and how is the organization funded?

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