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Dentists in nearly every medical destination will be able to take care
of nearly all the dental needs of medical travelers and health tourists.
Before travelling abroad for dental treatment, medical travelers and health tourists who know their teeth and gums are
healthy and who have planned well in advance with their medical travel agency may expect
the dental surgeon - often American- or European-trained - to be able to
perform sophisticated dental surgery the day of arrival in, say, Bangkok, Thailand, in Istanbul, Turkey or in
San Jose, Costa Rica. Otherwise, the dental team will likely delay treatment by a few days or a week until gums and teeth are healthy.
Prior to all treatments, whether dental or medical, medical travelers should asks for and
observe restrictions on drugs and supplements that might interfere with good treatment or recovery.
Dental surgery and dental treatments for serious dental problems
When you go to a dentist for a checkup, and need follow up care relating to the comfort,
appearance and health of your teeth and jaw, or if you have missing or deficient teeth, some of the care you
receive falls in the area of prosthodontic dentistry.
Prosthodontic dentistry includes
- dental crowns
- dental implants
- fillings
- bridges
- dentures
See more about dental implants and general dentistry and oral surgery.
See also oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Cosmetic dentistry, for a beautiful smile
A good cosmetic dentist will insist that your oral hygiene and dental health
are optimal before undergoing some cosmetic treatments. If not, any work you have done, cosmetic
or otherwise, may be compromised. If you think you may have gum problems, have your local dentist
treat them before your trip, or allow extra time (one or two weeks, depending) at the destination
for treatment.
Cosmetic dentistry includes
- laser teeth whitening or bleaching
- porcelain veneers
- corrective dentistry to enhance your smile
- dental bonding
- tooth contouring and reshaping
- dental caps
Here's a full description of cosmetic dentistry procedures.
Other specialized dental procedures
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the treatment of improper bites (malocclusions).
The primary responsibilities of the orthodontic practice include the diagnosis, prevention and treatment
of all forms of malocclusion.
In diagnosis and treatment planning, the orthodontist determines the cause of the improper bite and designs a treatment plan to deal with it.
The duration of orthodontic treatment varies based on your age, the extensiveness of the procedure (some people require more work than others) and
how closely you follow your treatment plan. Younger patients may respond more quickly to treatment than older patients because the bones supporting young teeth are more
pliable than those supporting older teeth but adults tend to follow the treatment plan more strictly.
Orthodontic treatments may often involve braces. Braces align the teeth by applying constant pressure in the desired directions. The pressure is adjusted
at prescribed intervals over the course of treatment.
For medical travelers, Invisalign, an alternative to braces, provides a solution that requires less dental visits and maintenance at home. Invisalign
may be your solution for crowding, spacing, overbites, under bites, deep bites and open bites.
The Invisalign system includes a series of invisible and removable aligners (retainers) that are individually manufactured with exact calculations
custom-made for you to gradually shift your teeth into better position. If it is determined that Invisalign is the right plan for you, impressions and pictures of your teeth are taken and digitized so the dentist can plan the progressive
movement of your teeth with computerized 3-D images. Customized aligners are made for you to wear at each stage of the treatment. The number of aligners required
depends on your personal needs, but usually about 20 to 30 aligners.
You need to wear your aligners at all times except when eating and drinking. Week by week you see your teeth gradually move into position. The duration
of treatments and number of aligners required depends on the severity of each case.
More about orthodontic treatments in Thailand.
Periodontics
Periodontics encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth. Periodontal disease (gum disease)
is the most common problem in periodontics. Professional treatment can stop gum disease from getting worse and these efforts can prevent further tissue destruction.
Depending on the stage of gum disease, treatment ranges from a thorough cleaning to surgery.
The main goals of periodontal treatment are to
- Eliminate bacterial infections that cause gum disease
- Control the inflammation that destroys the tissue anchoring teeth to the jaw bone
- Create a healthy periodontal environment that you can maintain
More about periodontal treatment in Thailand.
Endodontics
Endodontics deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. The endodontist is the dental specialist who treats root canals.
Your teeth have a core of blood vessels and nerves at their center. This living tissue is called the pulp and is in a space called the root canal. When the pulp becomes
diseased or injured, endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.
More about endodontics in Thailand.
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