Tooth broke on holiday

[DoubleBoubles]

I’m currently on holiday and one of the corners of my molar has broken off

It has had a large filling in it for years so I guess it was only a matter of time

My question is, should I seek out a dentist while I’m here or wibu to leave it until I get home? I fly back Tuesday

Currently a dull ache but the ache feels like it’s my whole mouth so I’m not sure whether I’m imagining it to be worse than it it.

I’ve also been rinsing with salt water to try and stave off infection

Just read lots of worrying worst case scenarios online so thought I’d see if anyone had any advise

Typical it would happen while I’m away as have saved and looked forward to this holiday for months 🙄

I would see a dentist. If you are in Europe your GHIC card will probably cover emergency dental treatment, or just use your insurance.

I’d wait till I got got home. What are the worst case scenarios you’ve seen?

Can you ring your dentist and ask how long it would be for an appointment once home?

If the filling is still in then you should be ok, just don’t leave it much longer than that because you’re more at risk of infection.

Check your insurance before seeing a dentist unless you are in pain. I found dental the ‘easiest’ claim to not pay when I worked in travel claims.. they’re so strict about you having visited the dentist x amount of time before your trip and only covering the bare minimum of temporary treatment to prevent pain, not permanent solutions. Sometimes the excess is different too. Read the T&Cs of your policy if you couldn’t afford to be out of pocket for the treatment.

Might get better dentistry on holiday!

Thanks for the comments so far. I’m in Spain and I’ve googled local dentists and nothing open today anyway. I think I’ll call my dentist tomorrow morning and try to book an appointment as soon as I get home otherwise I feel I will spoil the last day of the holiday for the kids by potentially sitting in a dentist waiting room. It’s just me and 2 kids so they’d have to come with me.

Any advice for keeping the pain/infection to a minimum before then please?
I’ve got the usual paracetamol and ibuprofen and rinsing with salt water

I would probably book a dentist appointment now for when you get home. If your dentist is private they may have a worldwide insurance though that you are eligible for anyway, mine does. Also if your dentist is private will going to a dentist on holiday instead be any more expensive than at home.

You can try and stave of infection by rinsing with a mouthwash - Corsodyl type one - and see if you can find some peroxide water that you can mix with bicarb powder to clean your teeth and mouth with. Tastes vile but it does work!

You can get Oragel or similar for toothache to numb it a bit

Weirdly the exact same thing has happened to me. I got an emergency appointment and had a temp put in. It was 3 days after it happened.

My actual appointment for the proper filling isn't for another two weeks. The temp bloody fell out a week ago. I was going to try and get another emergency appointment but then I wasn't well so couldn't go last week and I'm going on holiday in a few days and have loads on this week. I may ring tomorrow and see.

Mine has been fine for a week. No pain and I am keeping it clean as possible. Id wait until you get home but get your appointment lined up if you can.

I have heard that if you don’t have an emergency dental kit you can use chewing gum to fill any holes temporarily and protect the affected tooth.

For the pain (having tried lots of different products myself) I think anbesol (active ingredient lidocaine) is the best or gengigel is also good (active ingredient Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid)), is there a pharmacy near you where you can pick something similar up? Failing that clove oil works well.

I also think peroxyl (hydrogen peroxide mouthwash) and corsodyl (chorohexadine digluconate mouthwash) are brilliant for making sure you are keeping your mouth clean. They are also quite soothing.

I would book an appointment for when you’re back but try to get to a pharmacy ASAP to get something like gel or liquid anbesol to apply to you mouth to help the pain, a mouthwash for keeping your mouth clean and if they have an emergency dental kit there try that or chewing gum!