Table 1 Dental health preparation First cell on the right below should not be bold (- visit dentist...). No line under the first item (pre-travel dental check)
From: Putting the mouth back in the body – the neglected area of dental and oral travel health
Details | What to do |
|---|---|
Pre-travel dental check | - Visit dentist, especially for expatriates, long-term travellers (mandatory for workers in remote areas (e.g. Antarctica), expedition members). - Visit dental hygienist, including cleaning; book in advance a clean post-travel. |
Packing | - Bring spare toothbrush, enough toothpaste, floss, interdental brushes, care products for dentures or braces. - Pack mouth guard for planned sports. |
Dentist’s contact details | - Keep dentist details for contact if necessary. |
Local dentists | - Consider language barrier. - Get letter from your own dentist. - Obtain information on, or list of, local dentists from hotel, embassy, travel clinic, insurance. |
Dental restorations or repairs | - If possible, avoid travelling right after dental work (esp. after sedation/anaesthesia) - discuss with dentist. - Delay travel for the specified hours/days as per dentist/surgeon advice. - Retention of full/partial dentures changes with altitude and /or dry mouth. - Take spare dentures (store as per instructions for material used). - Carry suitable pain medication. - Be aware that temporary fillings may become dislodged. |
Insurance | - Check that policy includes emergency dental work (pre-existing dental conditions are usually excluded) |
Prepare and plan for potential challenges | - See Table 2 |