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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyone ever had to see a dentist abroad?

30 replies

anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 11:38

Heading to one of the Balearic Islands tomorrow. I’ve had some issues in the past few months requiring cleaning and antibiotics (think infected gum type of thing). It feels ok now but I’m getting very anxious about it flaring again while we’re away. I do suffer with health anxiety and get especially bad when we are going away from home so I’m a bag of nerves at the moment.

There is no obvious cause for concern at the moment but I tried to still see my dentist this week just for peace of mind and unfortunately they couldn’t get me in. So im just trying to remain logical and think even if it did happen abroad there are dentists there and I could get it sorted. Has anyone else ever had something like this while
on holiday and was it easily dealt with?

OP posts:
Sausagenbacon · 06/08/2026 11:44

My son had to vist a dentist in Bosnia while he was away on holiday this month. They saw him immediately and dealt with the issue. And wouldn't take payment.
A couple of years ago my dh had to see one in the USA while we were on hols. Be was seen quickly and charged a nominal amount.
By contrast, i'm a private patient and, a few weeks ago was on agony with a tooth, to the extent i wanted to cut short my hols, go home, amd have an extraction.
Which i could do, but not for 3 weeks. And costing £££.

Sausagenbacon · 06/08/2026 11:46

I'm not voting, as i don't think you're unreasonable to be concerned. But it worked out ok for my family.
I'd love to know why dentistry on the UK is so awful though.

RedRosie · 06/08/2026 11:49

I had to see a dentist in Venice a few years ago, for sudden pain. They were fabulous despite the language barriers, and, come to think of it, I don't remember being charged which can't be right at all. Perhaps DH sorted that, I'll have to ask him. Hopefully you have insurance if necessary?

Original poster
anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 11:50

I know that most of this is my anxiety taking over. I have some very minor swelling but have had this for weeks and no pain. But my anxious brain is telling me it’s going to get bad while we’re away and I won’t be able to get treatment, the holiday will be ruined etc etc etc. Dh doesn’t get it and thinks im being ridiculous. We are not going to some remote area of the world where there is no civilisation or healthcare, I don’t know why im like this.

OP posts:
Sunnytraces · 06/08/2026 11:51

You might have problem flare up there and find out they sort it once and for all🙈

bangingmyheadonabrickwall · 06/08/2026 12:46

Several times. In all cases the care was much better than I get in UK.

Original poster
anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 13:58

I keep hearing that dental care abroad is much better than here, would still rather not test it out if I can help it 😂

OP posts:
deepdas · 06/08/2026 13:59

my husband actively pursues his dental appointments (hygienist) when in Portugal. Much cheaper and same standard.

Allseeingallknowing · 06/08/2026 14:04

anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 13:58

I keep hearing that dental care abroad is much better than here, would still rather not test it out if I can help it 😂

Had filling repaired in Malta years ago, no problem. When I lived Spain, dental care was excellent and cheaper than private dentistry here.

dreamingofgoodhair · 06/08/2026 14:37

Yes. A few times , couple of emergencies , couple by choice. Claimed on my dental insurance when home. All fine.

theneighboureatmysalad · 06/08/2026 14:38

Just as good if not better than the uk, why wouldn't they?

dreamingofgoodhair · 06/08/2026 14:38

Sausagenbacon · 06/08/2026 11:44

My son had to vist a dentist in Bosnia while he was away on holiday this month. They saw him immediately and dealt with the issue. And wouldn't take payment.
A couple of years ago my dh had to see one in the USA while we were on hols. Be was seen quickly and charged a nominal amount.
By contrast, i'm a private patient and, a few weeks ago was on agony with a tooth, to the extent i wanted to cut short my hols, go home, amd have an extraction.
Which i could do, but not for 3 weeks. And costing £££.

Couldn’t you have had it extracted on holiday ?

WallaceinAnderland · 06/08/2026 14:41

DH broke his tooth on the plane on the way to Kenya. We went to a local dentist when we landed. I went with him in case there were problems.

The waiting room was tiny, dusty and yes there were chickens wandering around but when we were sent up, the room was spotlessly clinical, everything packaged, needles sealed, disposable gloves, etc. The dentist was wonderful and it was a better service than we'd ever had in the uk.

porridgecake · 06/08/2026 14:42

Check that your uk dental insurance will cover treatment abroad. Mine didn't. Your travel insurance won't cover it unless you have declared your pre-existing condition and paid the upgrade. Europe is likely to be as expensive as private treatment in uk, SE Asia would be cheaper. Aust/ NZ probably same as UK. So budget for treatment just in case.

porridgecake · 06/08/2026 14:48

Sorry, just seen your destination in OP. So likely to be similar cost.

Fruitpecker · 06/08/2026 14:50

I just had this exact concern as we were flying to the Caribbean and I had a chronic abscess come up on my gum. Saw the dentist and they gave me antibiotics to take straight away and a further pack to take with me in case it flared up when I was away. The dentist wouldn’t do the work before I went because I needed root canal so I had to travel with it but it was fine and I didn’t need the second pack of antibiotics. I would explain your concerns to your dentist and ask if you can have antibiotics as a precaution to take with you. I’d read that flying can aggravate tooth problems but our flight was more than 9 hours each way and it didn’t affect my tooth at all.

Original poster
anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 16:59

If I could see a dentist before we go I might feel better about it. All mine said was they are fully booked and to ring 111 for an emergency NHS dentist but I don’t feel it warrants that.

OP posts:
Sakura7 · 06/08/2026 17:02

Yes, in Croatia, and it was better service and cheaper than at home.

WallaceinAnderland · 06/08/2026 18:40

anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 16:59

If I could see a dentist before we go I might feel better about it. All mine said was they are fully booked and to ring 111 for an emergency NHS dentist but I don’t feel it warrants that.

So despite all the reassurance here, you are still not happy about going abroad?

Seasidewalker · 06/08/2026 18:48

I had dental pain whilst we were in the canaries, I needed it to be looked at as i also had a medical issue and it could have indicated an immune system issue is there wasn't an obvious dental issue.

It was great, one of the dental nurses spoke English as did the receptionist, I was seen as soon as I went there, prices were reasonable and I was very happy with the treatment (and I'm not a fan of dentists at all!).

Seasidewalker · 06/08/2026 18:48

Duplicate post

Fransgran · 06/08/2026 18:50

A few years ago my daughter had a bad fall while on holiday in Dubrovnik and damaged her front teeth. A local dentist opened his surgery (It was a Sunday) and fixed her up. Back in London, her (private) dentist said the treatment had been exemplary.

Quejica · 06/08/2026 19:05

I have all my dental appointments with a dentist and hygienist in Spain, they provide a great service at a very reasonable price.

Original poster
anonymum24 · 06/08/2026 19:06

WallaceinAnderland · 06/08/2026 18:40

So despite all the reassurance here, you are still not happy about going abroad?

Show quote history

As I’ve said, it’s more anxiety than anything. I’m trying (and clearly failing) to be logical. One of my biggest fears is getting sick abroad I don’t know why, especially when all the reassurance here and indeed my own critical thinking tells me that it would be fine even if the worst did happen. This is a long awaited family holiday and I don’t know why I’m self sabotaging with worry over something that hasn’t even happened yet.

OP posts:
Fruitpecker · 06/08/2026 19:12

OP, if you can’t get in with the dentist, could you speak to your GP and see if they can give you antibiotics? It’s usually amoxicillin for dental. Please just go and enjoy your holiday and don’t worry about it. Where you are going is not a third world country, their natives have dental needs too, so you will be just fine if you did need to have work done while there.