Travel Insurance Benefit 3 - Overseas Emergency Dental

The following information applies to policies purchased from 30th October 2023 onwards. For policies purchased prior to 30th October 2023: you can find the PDS relevant to you in your policy confirmation email, by logging into MyPolicy, or you can contact us for assistance.

Overseas Emergency Dental benefits can save your bank account hundreds of dollars, keeping you smiling all throughout your holiday! 

One of the best things about going on a holiday is flashing those pearly whites on camera! Whether it’s a food selfie or a face selfie there are so many great things about your teeth that is easily taken for granted when travelling. There are all kinds of things that can occur when you travel but there are few pain points that surpass the feeling of a broken tooth, filling loss or needing emergency root canal treatment. This pain is not only unbearable but can grind your travel plans to a halt.

Fast Cover Emergency Medical Dental can cover the cost of overseas emergency dental treatment. This means that you can be covered for the dental costs incurred which the treating dentist certifies in writing is for the relief of sudden and acute pain to sound and natural teeth .

What does sound and natural teeth mean? At Fast Cover, we define it as “whole or properly restored teeth with fillings only, where there is no other impairment to the teeth or periodontal disease and are not in need of treatment other than for accidental dental injury.”

Please bear in mind that not all travel insurance companies cover dental in their standard policies, or the cover may be limited. Overseas Emergency Medical Dental does not cover you for all dental procedures that you may need during your trip that is not directly related to accidental dental injury.

Do you have a Dental checklist ready for your trip:

There are a few preventative measures you can take to elevate some of your dental worries while you are travelling overseas

• Make sure you visit your dentist well BEFORE you leave for your trip. This is to give yourself plenty of time if there are any concerns that need addressing. If there are any Existing Medical Conditions, it may be better to cancel your holiday, or to make necessary arrangements to cater for that Existing Medical Condition. This will also help if you need any prescriptions for your dental condition.
• If you have dentures, implants, crowns, bridges or any other orthodontic devices, it would be a good idea to get them structurally checked to make sure they are not deteriorating! This can save you thousands of dollars if you are caught up with a dental emergency while you are travelling, as travel insurance will not cover you if you experience a complication related to any damage to these.
• Be mindful of what you will be doing when you travel. If you know you will be doing extreme sports or any other risky activities make sure you are also taking into account any dental injuries that might occur due to these activities. Being mindful of the possible impacts your activities may have on your teeth is research worth looking into. You should also check whether the activities you are participating in are covered by your policy. If the activity is not covered and you experience a dental emergency as a result of the activity, your claim may be denied.
• Be country-specific when you research your travel insurance options. Water is scarce in some areas of the world and not worth digesting due to pollution. Always buy bottled water if possible or if not, make sure you boil (at least 1 - 3 minutes) with water. To clean your toothbrush, we suggest soaking it in a cup of boiling water with some added salt to it. This can help with avoiding any nasty infections and costly dental bills that can occur from polluted water. 

What about Wisdom teeth?

If your wisdom teeth are causing you problems at the time that you purchase your policy, or before your trip departure date, this would likely be considered a pre-existing medical condition. Check out our Medical Conditions page for more information about medical screening for your wisdom teeth and any other existing medical conditions, including information about the General Exclusions that may apply*.

On the flip side, if you’re not aware of any issues with your wisdom teeth and you unexpectedly have a dental problem resulting in acute pain while overseas, the Overseas Emergency Dental benefit may be able to provide cover in this situation.

What should I do if something happens?

• Go to a dentist registered to provide the relevant service at your overseas destination for the emergency dental treatment you need and pay the dental bills yourself. Make sure that you get the documentation from the dentist confirming the work that has been done and also the receipt for payment of their services.
• If you are unsure, call our Emergency Assistance Team for advice on your dental condition or if you need directions to the nearest or most suitable dentist.
• Put in a claim with your supporting documentation and we will assess your claim on a case by case basis.

If you will be travelling to undergo Dental work:

Though many consumers choose to travel to Europe or Asia for overseas dental procedures, this is not always the best choice. Should anything go wrong with the procedure awry, depending on the policy and travel insurer, your travel insurance policy will likely not cover you for any complications stemming from the planned dental work you have undergone, and this includes your trip disruption expenses if you’re not able to continue your trip as a result of the dental procedure. This is because travel insurance only provides cover for unexpected situations, and there is unlikely to be any cover for any planned medical procedures, cosmetic treatments, or other non-emergency medical treatments.

If you are in any doubt of what you are covered for, the best method would be to contact us before you leave or our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team while overseas who will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take. 

Please note: Any advice is general advice only and does not take into account the customer’s individual needs, objectives or financial situation. Policies are subject to eligibility criteria, terms, conditions, exclusions and limits, therefore, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement to decide whether this policy is right for you.