Your Medellín treatment plan arrives as a PDF called presupuesto, the radiology report says reabsorción ósea, and the WhatsApp from the coordinator mentions a pilar and a cicatrizador. Machine translation gets you most of the way, but it is exactly the dental words it tends to mangle. This glossary is built for that moment.
It is organised the way an implant case actually unfolds: the plan, the scan, the surgery, healing, the final tooth, money, and aftercare. Each entry gives the Spanish term, a plain English meaning, and, where it matters, what to ask when you see it. Usage varies between clinics and between Latin American countries, so if a word on your plan is not here, ask the clinic to explain it in writing.
How to use this page
- Search your treatment plan for each Spanish term below and check you understand it.
- Where the “ask” column raises a question, send it to the clinic before you pay a deposit.
- Keep your English understanding of each line in a notes file alongside the original plan. It helps when you compare quotes later.
This is a language aid, not a translation service. For anything you sign, ask for an English version or a qualified interpreter.
The treatment plan itself
| Spanish | Meaning | Ask when you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Presupuesto | Quote or estimate (not “budget” in the household sense) | Is this final, or will it change after the in-person exam? |
| Plan de tratamiento | Treatment plan | Which stages happen on which visit? |
| Valoración | Assessment or consultation | Is the valoración charged separately? |
| Odontólogo / odontóloga | Dentist | What is the dentist's full name, for verification? |
| Implantólogo | Dentist focused on implant placement | Is this a formal specialty title or a description? |
| Periodoncista | Gum specialist | Will they do the surgery, or treat gum disease first? |
| Rehabilitador oral | Prosthodontist-type role, designs and fits the final teeth | Who is responsible for the crown or bridge? |
| Cirujano maxilofacial | Oral and maxillofacial surgeon | Is a hospital setting involved? |
| Historia clínica | Your clinical record | Can I have a copy when treatment ends? |
If the plan names people, check them. Our guide on verifying a Colombian dentist in ReTHUS explains how.
Scans and anatomy
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tomografía (Cone Beam / TAC dental) | CBCT scan, the 3D image used to plan implants |
| Radiografía panorámica | Panoramic X-ray of both jaws |
| Radiografía periapical | Small X-ray of one or two teeth |
| Reborde alveolar | The ridge of jawbone that held the teeth |
| Reabsorción ósea | Bone loss after a tooth is gone |
| Altura / ancho / espesor óseo | Bone height / width / thickness |
| Seno maxilar | Maxillary sinus, above the upper back teeth |
| Nervio dentario inferior | The nerve inside the lower jaw |
| Densidad ósea | Bone density |
| Encía | Gum |
When a report says the bone is insuficiente or recommends regeneración, it is pointing toward grafting. Ask whether the graft and implant happen together or on separate visits.
Surgery day
Procedures
- Exodoncia / extracción: tooth extraction.
- Implante inmediato / postextracción: implant placed in the same appointment as the extraction.
- Injerto óseo: bone graft. Injerto de tejido blando or injerto de encía is a soft-tissue (gum) graft.
- Regeneración ósea guiada (ROG): guided bone regeneration, a grafting technique with a membrane.
- Membrana: barrier membrane used with grafts.
- Elevación de seno / levantamiento de seno: sinus lift.
- Cirugía guiada / guía quirúrgica: guided surgery using a printed template.
- Colgajo: flap, meaning the gum is opened to see the bone. Sin colgajo means flapless.
- Sutura / puntos: stitches. Retiro de puntos is stitch removal.
Anaesthesia and medication
- Anestesia local: local anaesthetic.
- Sedación consciente / intravenosa: conscious / IV sedation. Ask exactly who gives it.
- Anestesia general: general anaesthesia.
- Ayuno: fasting before sedation.
- Fórmula médica / receta: prescription.
- Analgésico / antiinflamatorio / antibiótico: painkiller / anti-inflammatory / antibiotic.
- Enjuague / clorhexidina: mouth rinse / chlorhexidine.
For a full explanation of sedation choices, see our guide to sedation for implant surgery in Medellín.
Healing and the parts on top
| Spanish | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Oseointegración | Osseointegration, bone fusing to the implant | The reason for the wait between visits |
| Cicatrizador / tapa de cicatrización | Healing abutment or cap | A small part that shapes the gum while it heals |
| Tornillo de cierre / tapa de cierre | Cover screw, sits under the gum | Means a second minor step is needed to uncover the implant |
| Segunda fase / descubrimiento | Second stage / uncovering | May add an appointment on the second trip |
| Pilar / aditamento | Abutment, connects implant to crown | Check it is listed and priced |
| Pilar personalizado | Custom abutment | Often more expensive than a stock part |
| Provisional / temporal | Temporary tooth or crown | Ask if included and when you receive it |
| Carga inmediata | Immediate loading | A tooth on the implant soon after placement |
| Estabilidad primaria / torque | How firmly the implant holds at placement | Affects whether immediate loading is possible |
The final tooth
- Corona sobre implante: crown on an implant.
- Atornillada / cementada: screw-retained / cemented. Our screw versus cement guide explains why this matters.
- Puente sobre implantes: implant-supported bridge.
- Sobredentadura: overdenture, a removable denture that clips onto implants.
- Prótesis híbrida / prótesis fija total: fixed full-arch prosthesis.
- Zirconio / disilicato de litio / metal-porcelana: zirconia / lithium disilicate / porcelain fused to metal.
- Toma de impresión / escaneo intraoral: impression / intraoral scan.
- Prueba: try-in, checking the crown before final fitting.
- Ajuste oclusal: bite adjustment.
- Placa de descanso / placa miorrelajante: night guard.
Reading a plan line by line: an example
Here is how a typical line on a Medellín implant plan might be laid out, and how to read it. This is an invented illustration of the format, not a real quote or price.
| Line as written | What it means | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Valoración y tomografía | Consultation and CBCT | Is it credited against treatment if you proceed? |
| Implante dental (sistema ___) pieza 36 | Implant in the lower left first molar position | Is the system named? Which tooth does “36” refer to? (see below) |
| Injerto óseo + membrana (si se requiere) | Bone graft and membrane, if needed | “If needed” means the cost may be added later; ask how it is decided |
| Pilar + corona en zirconio atornillada | Abutment and screw-retained zirconia crown | Is this the second-trip cost, and is the price fixed? |
| Provisional | Temporary tooth | Which type, and when do you get it? |
| Controles postoperatorios | Post-operative check-ups | How many, and are they included? |
The most useful habit is to look for conditional words: si se requiere (if required), según criterio clínico (at clinical discretion), a partir de (from, meaning a starting price). Each one marks a place where the final bill could differ from the headline.
Tooth numbers
If you are used to the U.S. system that numbers teeth 1 to 32, a Colombian plan that mentions pieza 36 or diente 21 can be confusing. In the two-digit system many clinics use internationally, the first digit is the quarter of the mouth and the second is the tooth position from the midline. Ask the clinic to mark the tooth on a diagram if you are unsure which one they mean.
Money words
- Abono / anticipo: deposit or part-payment.
- Saldo: balance remaining.
- Cuotas: instalments.
- Factura / factura electrónica: invoice / electronic invoice.
- Recibo de caja: receipt.
- IVA: value-added tax. Ask whether the quote includes any tax.
- COP / pesos: Colombian pesos. Check whether the quote is fixed in pesos or dollars.
- No incluye: “not included.” Read everything after these words carefully.
- Garantía: warranty or guarantee. Ask for the conditions in writing.
Aftercare instructions
- Dieta blanda / líquida: soft / liquid diet.
- Compresas frías: cold packs.
- No escupir / no usar pitillo: do not spit / do not use a straw. (Pitillo is the Colombian word; elsewhere you may see pajilla or popote.)
- Sangrado / inflamación / dolor: bleeding / swelling / pain.
- Control: follow-up appointment.
- Urgencia: emergency.
“¿Me puede enviar esto por escrito en inglés?” Can you send me this in writing in English? “¿Qué incluye y qué no incluye este presupuesto?” What does this quote include and not include? “¿Qué sistema de implantes van a usar?” Which implant system will you use? “¿Quién hace la cirugía y quién hace la corona?” Who does the surgery and who does the crown? “Quisiera una copia de mi historia clínica y mis radiografías.” I would like a copy of my clinical record and X-rays.
Frequently asked questions
Is “presupuesto” a binding quote?
It is the normal word for a quote or estimate. Whether it is final depends on what it says. Many preliminary presupuestos change after the in-person exam and scan. Ask the clinic directly which parts could change and why.
What is the difference between “pilar” and “implante”?
The implante is the post placed in the bone. The pilar is the connector screwed into it that holds the crown. They are separate items and are often priced separately, so check both appear on your plan.
Should I rely on Google Translate for my consent form?
Use it to get a rough sense, but ask the clinic for an English version or have a qualified interpreter explain anything you sign. Dental terms are often mistranslated, and consent is too important to guess.
What does “no incluye” usually cover?
It varies by clinic. Common candidates include imaging, grafts, temporaries, sedation, medications and the final crown. Read that section line by line and ask about anything you expected to be included.
Why do some terms differ from what I learned in Spanish class?
Dental vocabulary and everyday words vary between Spanish-speaking countries. A Medellín clinic will use Colombian terms; a textbook may use Spanish or Mexican ones. When in doubt, ask.
Have a quote or a scan in hand?
Send it over. We will tell you plainly what trip structure it implies and which line items are missing — and if the numbers do not favour travelling for your case, we will say that too.
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