dental emergencies

[mtennant]

What is the situation if you have a dental emergency such as an abscess? I have heard that there are no dentists on board RCC ships and as I am on a cruise to Asia on the Rhapsody in January- only the second one RCC will have done to this area- I am concerned that they might not have local contacts yet. We will be in Haiphong, Hue, Vungtau, Sihanoukville as well as Nha Trang and Laemchabang. I do get rather frequent abscesses and travel with antibiotics but have had so many emergency appointments for draining abscesses or treating them over the years that I am a bit paranoid about it! What is local dental practice like?

[greatam]

What is the situation if you have a dental emergency such as an abscess? I have heard that there are no dentists on board RCC ships and as I am on a cruise to Asia on the Rhapsody in January- only the second one RCC will have done to this area- I am concerned that they might not have local contacts yet. We will be in Haiphong, Hue, Vungtau, Sihanoukville as well as Nha Trang and Laemchabang. I do get rather frequent abscesses and travel with antibiotics but have had so many emergency appointments for draining abscesses or treating them over the years that I am a bit paranoid about it! What is local dental practice like?

 

Thank goodness, I have never had to visit a dentist in Vietnam/Cambodia. However, I rely HEAVILY on the expertise of expats that actually LIVE in Vietnam/Cambodia year 'round for things like doctors (which I have needed) and local help (translation and transport). I have also called International SOS, which is a freebie with my travel insurance policy.

 

http://www.internationalsos.com/en/index.htm?CFID=14194492&CFTOKEN=17161745

 

Here are two websites I have used to contact expats:

 

http://vietnam.asiaxpat.com/directory/healthservices/

 

http://www.alloexpat.com/vietnam_expat_forum/

 

I am sure any one of these can put you in touch with a competent dentist. My first place to call would be my travel insurance company.

[CruiseKidz]

My son lives in Saigon and says the dental treatment offered by local dentists is very good quality and very cheap, getting a name from Greatam's list in the towns in Vietnam you plan to visit should put your mind at rest.

Laem Chabang in Thailand is a port area the nearest town is Pattaya.

[Keith1010]

None of the cruise lines have dentists. Rather they have medical doctors. In cases of needing dental treatment the cruise lines usually assist by obtaining the name of a local dentist for you.

 

Keith

[SarasMommy]

I would encourage that you get vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, in case you need treatment on shore in any of these places.