Picture this: You’ve finally made it. The bags are unpacked, the kids are slathered in sunscreen, and you’re sitting on a balcony overlooking the ocean with a cold drink in hand. This is the summer vacation you’ve been dreaming of for months.
Then, you take a sip of that iced coffee.
Zing.
A sharp, shooting pain radiates from your lower molar all the way up to your temple. You try to ignore it, but within an hour, the "zing" has turned into a steady, pulsing throb. You’re in a strange city, it’s 8:00 PM on a Saturday, and your regular dentist is 500 miles away.
What do you do?
For most people, the default reaction is panic. You pull up Google Maps and search for the nearest Emergency Room. But before you put on your shoes and prepare to spend six hours in a waiting room, you need to ask yourself one question: Is a $500 ER visit actually better than a $64 online dentist?
Spoiler alert: It’s not. In fact, for most dental emergencies, the ER is the most expensive and least effective choice you can make.
In this Summer Travel Edition, we’re breaking down why an online dentist is your best travel companion and how you can save your vacation (and your wallet) with a simple dental consult online.
When you’re away from home, the Emergency Room feels like a safe bet. It’s open 24/7, it’s visible, and you know they have doctors. But here is the dirty little secret of the healthcare industry: Most ERs do not have a dentist on staff.
When you walk into an ER with a toothache, here is what typically happens:
You’ve just paid hundreds of dollars for a "referral" and a temporary bandage. That’s not a solution; that’s an expensive delay.
Now, let’s look at the alternative. With home dentistry technology, specifically through The TeleDentists, you don't have to leave your hotel room.
For a flat fee of $64, you can connect with a board-certified, licensed dentist via video call on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Whether you need an online dentist to look at a swollen gum or a dental consult online to figure out if that chipped tooth is a "now" problem or a "wait until I get home" problem, we’ve got you covered.
At The TeleDentists, we track our success closely. One of our most proud statistics is our 95% diversion rate.
What does that mean for you? It means that 95% of patients who use our service for a dental emergency do NOT end up needing to go to the ER.
Most dental issues that feel like "emergencies", even the really painful ones, can be managed through:
By choosing a virtual consult first, you are almost guaranteed to avoid the stress and expense of a hospital visit.
Summer brings its own set of unique dental risks. Between the active outdoor lifestyle and the sugary vacation treats, your teeth are under more pressure than usual.
You’re hot, you’re thirsty, and you decide to crunch on the ice at the bottom of your soda. Crunch. A piece of your molar goes with it.
How we help: We can assess the depth of the crack. If the nerve is exposed, we can guide you on how to protect it and find a local dentist for an immediate fix. If it's just a cosmetic chip, we’ll help you manage the sensitivity so you can enjoy the rest of your trip.
Deep-seated infections or abscesses often flare up during travel due to changes in air pressure (flying) or diet.
How we help: Through a video call, we can look for signs of infection like swelling or redness. Our dentists can prescribe antibiotics to get the infection under control immediately, preventing it from turning into a dangerous systemic issue.
A kid slips on the wet tile and bumps their front tooth.
How we help: This is a scary moment for parents. We provide immediate pediatric guidance. We can tell you if the tooth needs to be re-implanted, how to store it, and whether you need to rush to a local clinic.
One of the biggest hurdles of vacation dental pain is the "Where do I go?" factor. You don't know which local dentists are reputable, and you certainly don't want to spend your afternoon calling 20 different offices only to find out they aren't taking new patients.
When you use The TeleDentists, we don't just give you a diagnosis and hang up. If your issue requires an in-person visit, we can provide a referral to a local dentist in our network. We help bridge the gap between "I'm in pain on my phone" and "I'm in a dental chair getting fixed."
You might be wondering if people actually use this. The answer is a resounding yes. Recent data shows that 78% of patients are ready and willing to try teledentistry. The convenience of seeing a doctor from your couch (or your beach towel) is hard to beat.
As more people realize they can get high-quality care without the high-quality price tag of a hospital, virtual consultations are becoming the "new normal" for dental triage.
Before you head out on your next adventure, keep these three tips in mind to keep your smile safe:
When you're on vacation, your time is your most valuable asset. Spending half a day in a sterile ER waiting room is a waste of your hard-earned time and money.
For $64, you get:
For $500+, you get:
The choice is clear. This summer, travel with peace of mind. Whether you're at home or halfway across the world, a world-class dentist is just a click away.
Don't let a toothache ruin your summer memories. Connect with a licensed dentist in minutes for just $64. No insurance required, no appointments necessary.
Get Started with Your Virtual Consultation Here
This post is scheduled for release on Tuesday, June 9th, at 10:00 AM Central Time. For more tips on maintaining your oral health while traveling, check out our Helpful Info section.
