Dentists on holiday

bellett

Hope this is the right forum, didn't really know where to post. I have terrible problems with my teeth and have a wonderful dentist who thoroughly understands the phobia(s) I have.

Short story is we are going on holiday to France in a couple of weeks, and I am terrified of needing dental treatment while I am away. I don't speak French and would not have a clue how to explain my terror.

I know this must seem a silly thing to be worrying about but for the last 4 years everytime we have been away I have either broken a tooth, lost a filling or had a crown fall out. On every ocassion I managed to get through until we got home, but we were only in the UK - going to France has escalated my terror to the point where I can't sleep. Today at lunch a piece of filling (a large piece) broke off my tooth and I know it is a tooth the dentist said she can't repair any further. This already means I have to try and get an emergency appointment tomorrow and I am praying my dentist is not on holiday herself. (Am trying not to think of the cost as my dentist went private a couple of years ago and I was too terrified to move to a new dentist so am outside the nhs).

My DH is an optimistic person (I am the opposite) and he has never had tooth ache so doesn't understand what it can be like. I don't want this to affect the holiday for our children as we have saved up for over 3 years to afford this, but I can't seem to keep a lid on my fears and am now dreading going away.

I feel so miserable and angry - miserable because this happens every year and angry that I take such good care of my teeth and still have loads of problems - even my dentist says I am really unlucky.

Thanks for reading this - I know there is nothing anyone can do but if you have any experience of needing dental care in France I would be so grateful if you would share your experience with me.

CB1979_2

well if i were you, i'd get some cue cards written up in french explaining your fears, so you can hand it over if you get to the dentist.

I would help but I got a D in french GCSE! lol

ps i'd possibly look to change dentists too, if you keep having previous dental treatments fall out (fillings, caps, etc) and you're doing everything right, then perhaps she's not as good as you believe as your opinion of her is biased just cos she eases your fears.

bellett

CB1979 wrote: »

well if i were you, i'd get some cue cards written up in french explaining your fears, so you can hand it over if you get to the dentist.

I would help but I got a D in french GCSE! lol

ps i'd possibly look to change dentists too, if you keep having previous dental treatments fall out (fillings, caps, etc) and you're doing everything right, then perhaps she's not as good as you believe as your opinion of her is biased just cos she eases your fears.

Thanks for your help - my dentist is good but my teeth are not! I have very weak teeth and very few left (at the back anyway). Those that I do have are heavily filled or crowns - all work done before I found the dentist I have now, who really is doing her best to try and save what is left of my back teeth. Good idea about cue cards though - thanks!

Glad

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL]

kb36

Do a bit of internet research if possible and find a dentist in the town you are staying in who speaks english. This may allay your fears somewhat if you know there is someone on standby who you can communicate with.

Just found this
http://www.englishspoken.info/
type in denstist and then the area you are staying in.... Good luck! You'll be prepared then if anything doesn't go according to plan with your teeth!

Ian_W

There is a free online translator HERE. In case you can't get an English speaking dentist why not translate what you would need the dentist to know into French and let them read it before they treat you?

I've used it myself to translate some legal property stuff from Spanish to English which I knew the broad meaning of and it came out very readable and accurate.

You can only use it free for 150 words at a time but if you need the dentist to know more you can just break it down into bite sized chunks [sorry, couldn't resist the pun! ] and use it as many times as you like.

HTH.