Dental Emergency Abroad: What to Do and What Insurance Covers

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Most travellers check their policy for hospitals, sports and flights home. Very few check what happens to their teeth. Then a bite of something hard, a fall or a board to the face turns a holiday into a hunt for a dentist in a language you do not speak.

After my sea urchin lesson, I read the small print before I need it. Here is what to do in a dental emergency abroad, and what insurance usually pays for.

First, is it a medical emergency?

Most dental problems are painful but not dangerous. Some are. The NHS advice on dental abscesses says to get emergency help straight away if you:

• find it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
• have a swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your eyesight
• have a lot of swelling in your mouth
• find it hard to open your mouth

If that is you, call the local emergency number or go to a hospital. Do not wait for a dentist.

A chipped or broken tooth

A broken tooth is usually not serious, but it needs a dentist. The NHS advice on chipped and broken teeth is simple: if a piece has broken off, keep it in milk or saliva and take it with you. The dentist may be able to stick it back on.

If the tooth was knocked out by a fall or a crash, you may have other injuries too. Get checked properly.

Toothache and swelling

Pain that keeps you awake, a bad taste or a swollen gum can mean an infection. Book an urgent dentist appointment rather than waiting until you get home. Infections can spread.

How to find a good dentist abroad

1. Call your insurer’s assistance line. Many can recommend a reputable dentist or clinic nearby.
2. Ask your accommodation or local expats. Hotels and coworking spaces usually know who the reliable dentists are.
3. Look for clear prices. Ask what the treatment will cost before it starts.
4. Ask for an itemised invoice and a short report. You will need both to claim.

What travel insurance usually covers

This is where people get surprised. Most travel health insurance does not cover dental care in general. It usually pays only for emergency treatment after an accident, often up to a fixed limit. Fillings, cleaning, checkups and crowns for teeth that were already bad are normally excluded.

Genki Traveler

I use Genki for my own cover. Under the current Genki Traveler insurance conditions, dental care is excluded, with one important exception. You are covered for up to €1,000 per case for basic, medically necessary dental care after an accident during your insurance period. Toothache, fillings and checkups are not covered. You pay the first €50 of each case.

Genki Native

If you live abroad long term and want routine dental care, Genki’s long term plan is different. Genki Native Premium covers cleanings, checkups, fillings, root canals and crowns, with limits and a 3 month waiting period for some treatments. I compare the two plans in travel health insurance vs international health insurance.

Before your next trip

• Get a checkup before a long trip and fix anything that is already bothering you.
• Pack a small kit: painkillers you know you can take, dental floss and a temporary filling kit from a pharmacy.
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
• Save your insurer’s emergency number on your phone.

Protect your smile on the road

A dental emergency is miserable but manageable if you know what to do and what you are covered for. For other injuries, follow my guide on what to do if you get sick or injured abroad. Riding scooters on your trip? Read does travel insurance cover scooters. And if you want accident cover for your travels, you can check the price of Genki Traveler for your age.

Photo by Atikah Akhtar on Unsplash.