Having to see a dentist on the go can ruin a dream vacation. Believe me, I’ve heard it all at Lakeside Dental – patients calling from cruise ships, ski resorts, and foreign cities with dental emergencies. Let’s talk about how you can prepare and what to do in the event of a dental disaster on the road.

Common Travel Dental Emergencies

You know how Murphy’s Law is – whatever can happen will go wrong, and most likely at the worst time. That lovely beach vacation you’ve been dreaming about for months? That’s when your tooth finally gets tired of everything.

Handling a Broken or Chipped Tooth

Think about it: you’re settling in to enjoy a delicious local snack and all of a sudden you’re hit with a hard feeling – and it’s not in your snack. That nasty sensation when you know that it’s a chip of your tooth can ruin any vacation.

If this happens, don’t panic. Spit out your mouth and rinse with warm water and a cold compress to reduce swelling. Preserve any that break if you can find them. Travel bag dental wax (see below) can be the best thing to put over those nasty edges until you can find an emergency dentist.

Finding an Emergency Dentist in a Foreign Country

Research Before You Travel

I always tell my patients that a little homework does a lot of good. Take 15 minutes before you leave to research emergency dental care where you are traveling. Most hotels will have referral arrangements with local healthcare providers, including emergency dentists. Your travel insurance may also cover dental emergencies, so check your policy before you leave.

Using Technology to Your Advantage

Isn’t technology great? Today, an emergency dentist may be just a few taps on your phone away. There are a variety of apps that can locate dental clinics around you, and virtually all dental clinics offer virtual consultations. I have treated patients over a video call who were thousands of kilometers away from me, guiding them through until they were receiving proper care.

Language Barriers and Cultural Differences

Let me share a short anecdote. One of my patients was on a trip to Japan when she contracted an abscess. She visited a dental clinic with absolutely no Japanese language skills and tried to explain her problem using charades! While it is a funny anecdote now, it was tense then.

Think about pre-downloading translation software for your vacation. Having a phrase to say you have a toothache or that you need a dentist can save a lot of stress.

Assembly of Your Travel Dental Emergency Kit

Must-Have Items to Pack

This is your dental first-aid kit. You don’t have to make it large and complicated, but you do need it to include:

• Temporary filling material (most drugstores stock it)
• Dental wax (a true multi-use lifesaver)
• Clove oil (nature’s toothache remedy)
• Small vial for an avulsed tooth
• Pain medications
• Our phone numbers at Lakeside Dental

I once had a patient who used chewing gum to make a temporary filling when he was hiking in the Rockies! While an innovative solution, I would not advise this where others exist.

Preventive Measures Before Traveling

The perfect emergency is one that never happens. Get a check-up before going long distances, especially if you’re going to a rural place. I’ve caught thousands of potential problems in pre-travel check-ups that would have entirely been emergencies while traveling.

Emergency Dentist Procedures for Special Situations

Procedure for a Knocked-Out Tooth

Time is critical in case a tooth is knocked out. If that happens, grab the tooth delicately by the crown (that which appears when you smile), but never touch the root. Gently rinse it off but do not brush it and try to put it back in the socket if at all possible. Otherwise, place it in milk or your own saliva until you locate an emergency dentist immediately.

Treating Severe Toothaches

Toothaches also seem to have an odd ability to start in the middle of the night, don’t they? For severe pain, rinse with warm salt water and floss to remove food that might be stuck in there. A cold pack and over-the-counter medication can delay pain long enough to find an emergency dentist.

Following the Emergency: Follow-Up Care

When you come back home, make sure to stop by our office at Lakeside Dental. We will examine any work you had done overseas and make sure that everything is healing properly. Occasionally something that was an easy repair might need a follow-up.

Don’t forget that we are always available for assistance with any of your dental crises. When you need consult before your travels or when care is needed once you return back to Stoney Creek, remember to call at 905-664-0808.