Did you know that every year, there are about two million visits to hospital emergency departments for dental pain alone?
This doesn’t even factor in other types of dental emergencies or visits to an emergency dentist.
A dental emergency can be upsetting at the best of times, but what if it happens when you’re on vacation?
Read on to learn how to find a dentist when you have a dental emergency away from home.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
There is a difference between a dental problem and a dental emergency. If you have a minor toothache, for example, you’re probably not going to require emergency dental treatment. You should be able to wait until you get back home to deal with this type of issue.
There are some dental concerns that need to be dealt with as soon as possible, however. These include:
- broken teeth
- chipped or cracked teeth
- teeth falling out
- severe tooth pain
- abscesses
- trauma or injury to your gums, teeth, or mouth
- infection in your mouth
- continually bleeding gums
- swollen gums or face
If you’re not sure if your situation constitutes a dental emergency, then it’s always best to contact a dentist in round lake beach and ask for advice.
Finding a Dentist Out of Town
If you’re away from home, but still in your own country, then you should be able to find an emergency dentist who can help. There are a number of ways to do this.
Look Online
The internet is your friend.
If you type “emergency dentist near me” into your search engine of choice, you should find some highly useful results that will help you to narrow down your search. You can also take a look at online reviews to ensure that you’re visiting an emergency dentist that you can trust.
The nearest result won’t necessarily be the best, so take your time to make the right choice.
Use the ADA Tool
The American Dental Association provides a tool that can help you find a dentist in a specific location.
Simply enter your current location and the tool will provide a list of approved dentists in the nearby area.
Find an In-Network Dentist
If you have dental insurance, then be sure to find a dentist that is in-network, as otherwise you may end up out of pocket.
Your insurance provider should be able to give you information on local in-network dentists wherever you’re on vacation.
Contact Your Regular Dentist
Once you find a local dentist, you should contact your regular dentist. They will be able to pass on any important medical information to the emergency dentist to aid in your treatment.
Finding a Dentist Abroad
If you’re travelling abroad, finding an emergency dentist can be more of a challenge. You may have language barriers to overcome, or no immediate access to the internet. The steps below can help you find an emergency dentist more easily.
Research Before You Travel
It pays to be prepared.
Before you leave for your vacation, do some research on emergency dentists in the location that you’re going to be visiting. If you’re visiting Mexico, for example, then a search for “emergency dentist in Mexico” will bring up plenty of useful options.
You can also read up on what to expect from your first trip to the dentist in a different country.
Call Your Travel Insurance Provider
If you need a dentist when you’re traveling, then your travel insurance provider may be able to help.
Contact your insurance provider, tell them about your dental emergency, and they may be able to provide you with information on where you can find a good emergency dentist. They will also be able to tell you exactly what is and isn’t covered by your travel insurance policy.
A good travel insurance provider should also be able to offer useful tips and information about what to expect when you visit an emergency dentist in a different country.
Ask Your Concierge
Another great source of information when you’re looking for an emergency dentist when on vacation will be your hotel concierge.
It’s the job of the concierge to have a wealth of local information on a wide range of subjects. This will include information about the nearest doctors, hospitals, and dentists. They should be able to provide you with details of dentists you can visit, and may even be able to arrange transportation for you if you don’t feel able to get there under your own steam.
The concierge will also have first-hand knowledge of dental treatments and procedures in that country, so they may be able to give you some useful tips before you visit.
Call the Embassy
If you’re still having no luck finding an emergency dentist, then you can try contacting the local embassy.
The role of an embassy is to provide assistance to their national citizens when they’re abroad. This will include offering useful information about medical and dental treatment.
Your embassy should be able to provide you with impartial information about the best places to get your dental emergency treated.
Now You Know How to Find a Dentist on Vacation
Being prepared so that you can find a dentist when you’re on vacation is vital. Although dental emergencies are rare, the last thing you want is to be in dental pain away from home with no idea what to do. By following the tips above, you can be sure that should the worst happen, you’ll be ready to find a good dentist who can fix the problem as soon as possible.
If you’re looking for more useful content on health, travel, and more, then be sure to check out the rest of the site.
