Tooth ache and lost fillings are bad enough when they occur under normal everyday circumstances, but a dental emergency can be especially traumatic if it happens when you are abroad on holiday.
Depending where you're holidaying, finding good dental care can be very difficult. So what can you do to prevent a holiday dental emergency and what action can you take if you find yourself experiencing one? Read on for some helpful tips and advice.
Prior to Your Holiday
Well before your travel date, book an appointment with your dentist for a check-up so that you can have any problems sorted out before you go.
If you're flying, changes in cabin pressure can be excruciatingly painful in an untreated tooth that's cracked or missing a filling so be sure to have any decay or damage sorted out prior to travelling. Sinus congestion can be aggravated by flying too, and this can also be caused by problem teeth.
If you have tooth sensitivity to heat or cold, it's a good idea to ask your dentist about preventative measures that you could take while you're away. The last thing you want is to go without ice in your drinks if you're going somewhere hot, or to be unable to enjoy a steaming mug of hot chocolate après-ski.
To avoid the potential issue of bad breath and early onset gum disease, arrange to have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist or hygienist.
Dental Emergencies While Abroad
If you suffer a dental emergency while you're abroad, your first port of call for assistance should be your hotel concierge or manager. They should be able to put you in touch with a local dentist. In most cases, the treatment you receive will be a temporary fix to see you comfortably through the remainder of your holiday, and you should see your regular dentist as soon as you can when you arrive home.
Although you will have to pay for your treatment, your holiday insurance cover will normally reimburse you for most of what you've had to pay.
A useful contact that you could use in case of dental emergency when travelling abroad is The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers. The IAMAT is a network of doctors, dentist and medical institutions around the world. Through their website, you can find the contact information of an emergency dentist near to your holiday location, wherever you are in the world.
Don't allow your holiday to be ruined by a dental emergency. Make an appointment to have your teeth checked and cleaned by a regular dentist well before you travel. For more information, contact a business such as Jeffcott Dental Clinic.
