What should I do if I am out of town and have a dental emergency?

If you are traveling and are not able to get back to see your own dentist, probably the next best thing to call your dentist to ask for advice. Find out whether he or she feels immediate treatment is needed. Not every dental 'emergency' needs immediate attention. If a tooth is broken, but a patient has no pain, often waiting a week will do no real harm. If your dentist does feel you need immediate attention and they cannot recommend someone in the location nearby, then you should consider getting a referral from someone local.

If you are staying in a hotel, then they may keep a list of emergency numbers for their guests and can recommend a dentist. If you staying with someone you could always ask them for a referral. Usually a word of mouth referral is the bast way to find a good dentist.