Dentist and optician

Teeth and eyes are easy to forget when you leave home, partly because they are often outside free care. Knowing how each system works, and what counts as urgent, saves pain and money.

Finding a dentist in the UK

• The NHS says you can contact any NHS dentist to ask for an appointment, and that some practices offer both NHS and private care, so ask specifically for NHS treatment.
• You may be put on a waiting list. If no local dentist offers NHS appointments, the NHS suggests contacting your local integrated care board.
• Filling in a registration form at a practice does not guarantee you NHS care there in future, according to the NHS.
• Most adults pay for NHS dental treatment. The NHS says treatment is free if you are under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education.
• International students on a visa still pay for dental treatment even after the IHS, according to GOV.UK.

What counts as a dental emergency

• The NHS says to call 111 or contact a dentist for: a knocked-out tooth or other mouth injury, severe pain not eased by paracetamol or ibuprofen, pain that will not go away, swelling or a lump or patch in the mouth that is growing, a mouth ulcer lasting 2 weeks or more, bleeding or severe pain after an extraction, or a broken or loose filling, denture, crown, bridge or veneer.
• For a knocked-out adult tooth, the NHS says you should be offered emergency dental care within 1 hour, or as soon as possible.
• Go to A&E or call 999 for serious face or jaw injuries, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or swelling of the mouth or throat with difficulty breathing, according to the NHS.

Eye tests and glasses

• In England, NHS sight tests are free for 16, 17 and 18-year-olds in full-time education, including at university. After that, most students pay unless they qualify on income (see the lesson on health on a budget).
• If you are eligible for a free NHS test, the NHS says you can have one every 2 years, or more often if your optometrist recommends it.
• If you are worried about your sight before your next test is due, see an optometrist, who can arrange an earlier test if clinically necessary.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, pack a spare pair of glasses and a copy of your prescription. Losing your only pair in a new city is a common student problem.

Dentists and opticians in the UAE and US

• In the UAE and US, dental and optical cover depends on your insurance plan and is often limited or excluded. Check your table of benefits for 'dental' and 'optical' before booking.
• If your plan excludes them, ask the clinic for the price in writing before treatment.
• Many students book a dental check-up and eye test at home in the summer before leaving, so they start term with healthy teeth and an up-to-date prescription.

Simple habits that prevent expensive problems

• Book a dental check-up before you leave home and ask the dentist when you should next be seen.
• Keep a small dental kit: toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, floss and a basic painkiller (see the Looking After Yourself When You Are Ill module for using painkillers safely).
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
• Note your glasses or lens prescription and the date of your last eye test in your medical record.