Finding Dental Care Abroad
If you do need to seek dental care outside the country then you should be very cautious. Dentists practicing in the United States are required to graduate from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Although finding a credible dentist overseas is not impossible, you should keep in mind that not all countries hold their dental practitioners to the same codes as we do in the United States.
Traveling After Surgery
One of the biggest risks of having dental work done overseas is traveling afterwards. Many dental procedures, especially emergency procedures, are considered oral surgery and require rest and relaxation in order to fully heal. After getting major dental work you should be prepared to rest for a few days afterwards. Additionally, some types of oral surgery will prevent you from being able to fly in a plane as changes in cabin pressure can result in serious tooth pain.
Dental Record Accessibility
It is not a good idea to have a dentist perform work on your teeth without having a full cop of your dental records. Therefore, if you need to have dental work done overseas then you will want to make sure your dentist from back home can fax over a copy of your dental records. Doctor patient confidentiality rules are also different in other countries, so you should always ask what the office’s confidentiality procedures are before giving them your records.
Travel Insurance
If you can afford to do so, purchasing health insurance for while you are traveling is an option. It will prevent you from having to pay out of pocket for any dental work performed overseas that is not covered by your regular provider. You can usually purchase these types of insurance plans as little as two weeks ahead of time. If you travel frequently then you can keep the insurance policy open for years.
Preventative Care
There are several things you can do to help prevent a dental emergency from happening while outside of this country. While travel insurance is certainly an option, going to your dentist for a check-up before you leave town will be much less expensive. Just be sure to mention to your dentist that you will be traveling outside the country before they start the examination.
If you do need to seek dental care outside the country then you should be very cautious. Dentists practicing in the United States are required to graduate from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. Although finding a credible dentist overseas is not impossible, you should keep in mind that not all countries hold their dental practitioners to the same codes as we do in the United States.
Traveling After Surgery
One of the biggest risks of having dental work done overseas is traveling afterwards. Many dental procedures, especially emergency procedures, are considered oral surgery and require rest and relaxation in order to fully heal. After getting major dental work you should be prepared to rest for a few days afterwards. Additionally, some types of oral surgery will prevent you from being able to fly in a plane as changes in cabin pressure can result in serious tooth pain.
Dental Record Accessibility
It is not a good idea to have a dentist perform work on your teeth without having a full cop of your dental records. Therefore, if you need to have dental work done overseas then you will want to make sure your dentist from back home can fax over a copy of your dental records. Doctor patient confidentiality rules are also different in other countries, so you should always ask what the office’s confidentiality procedures are before giving them your records.
Travel Insurance
If you can afford to do so, purchasing health insurance for while you are traveling is an option. It will prevent you from having to pay out of pocket for any dental work performed overseas that is not covered by your regular provider. You can usually purchase these types of insurance plans as little as two weeks ahead of time. If you travel frequently then you can keep the insurance policy open for years.
Preventative Care
There are several things you can do to help prevent a dental emergency from happening while outside of this country. While travel insurance is certainly an option, going to your dentist for a check-up before you leave town will be much less expensive. Just be sure to mention to your dentist that you will be traveling outside the country before they start the examination.
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