Dental checks save travellers trouble

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 4

Dental checks save travellers trouble

In spite of unemployment, redundancies and a questionable economic climate, there are always candidates for airline seats. Whether it be retired couples, enthusiastic youngsters or international business people, there is never a shortage of those who plan a short stay away from New Zealand. Knowing the cost of medical and dental treatment in some countries wise travellers take out travel insurance, which covers health. Most travel agencies will offer some form of policy, while a few provide options with several companies. In all cases though, the dental cover refers only to unforeseen accidents or sudden toothache. Some of them lay down a precondition, that the dental structures were in a reasonably healthy state before the person left New Zealand. Not all travellers are so sufficiently aware of this as to have a check-up before leaving home, and we all know how time can easily slip by since our last routine visit to the dentist In a strange country, the traveller is at the mercy of a dentist of unknown skills. Your own dentist knows you and your mouth, and he or she will provide for your best long-term interests. Unfortunately, that state of affairs does not always prevail elsewhere. Too often, the services will be of a standard which you would certainly not choose for yourself back home. Therefore before travelling it is prudent to have all your

parts in good working order. However, with all the precautions in the world, there will still be occasions for which you cannot plan. So, if something untoward does happen in the dental line when you are in far-off places, there are a few basic rules. The most common dental emergency is to break off part of a tooth. Usually the repair will need to be reasonably permanent, but if it is a front tooth, often a temporary crown can be applied to serve until you come home. If you are seeking attention because of pain, there are a number of satisfactory temporary materials available to dentists, which will hold everything together for a

couple of’months. Sometimes, the matter is more serious, involving the nerve of a tooth or even an abscess. In that case, drainage and dressings will be needed, but it may be possible to delay the final root filling until you are back in New Zealand. People with false teeth tend to think that dental emergencies are no problem for them. If they only knew how many dentures have been lost down toilets and fractured on bones, or how many teeth have been dislodged from part-plates, spoiling a holiday.

If it is just a straightforward crack in the denture or a single tooth chipped off, a simple repair job will do. If it is a case of making a new denture, put it off if you can. Having a good insurance cover can promote marvellous peace of mind for the overseas traveller. But it will not be half as much surety as a visit to your dentist before leaving home.

Word of Mouth