Dental aftercare after treatment abroad

Good aftercare

Five things to ask before you pay a deposit

A clinic that can’t offer all five is asking you to carry the risk alone. We ask every clinic that quotes for you.

Written instructions, in English

Aftercare for your specific treatment, given to you before you leave the clinic.

A contact that answers

A direct phone or WhatsApp line once you’re home – not just a sales line. Your Smile & Stay coordinator is there too.

Your complete records

X-rays, treatment notes and – for implants – an implant passport with brand, size and batch, so any UK dentist can identify and look after the work.

Scheduled follow-ups

Check-ins during healing, by video or message – not silence until something hurts.

A warranty that travels home

In writing: what’s covered, for how long, and who pays if you need to go back.

At home

Aftercare by treatment

General guidance. Your clinic’s own written instructions always come first – they know exactly what was done.

Dental implants

First 48–72 hours: soft food, no smoking or alcohol, rinse gently rather than brushing the area, and take any medication exactly as prescribed. Next 3–6 months: the implant fuses with the bone – keep the area very clean, avoid chewing hard food on that side and keep to your follow-up schedule. Mild swelling is normal; increasing pain, bleeding or a loose implant is not – contact your clinic straight away.

Crowns & veneers

Sensitivity to hot and cold for a week or two is normal and settles. Avoid very hard or sticky food for the first few days. Long term: brush twice a day with a low-abrasion toothpaste, floss daily, wear a night guard if one was prescribed and have a yearly check-up and clean. With that routine, crowns typically last 10–15 years.

Gum treatment

After gum contouring or a deep clean, expect some tenderness for a few days. Use any rinse you’re given, avoid smoking – it slows gum healing considerably – and brush gently around the treated area until it settles.

All-on-4 & dentures

A soft diet for the first weeks while gums and bone settle. New teeth take some getting used to – speaking and eating feel normal again after a short adjustment period.

Whitening

Some sensitivity is common for a day or two. For the first 48 hours it helps to avoid strongly coloured food and drink such as coffee, red wine and curry.

Extractions & oral surgery

Don’t rinse hard or use a straw for the first day, so the clot can form. Keep to soft food, rest, and follow the clinic’s instructions for any stitches or medication.

If something isn’t right

What to do once you’re home

Get in touch first – not lastMessage your coordinator or the clinic with what you’ve noticed. Most worries in the first weeks are normal healing and can be settled with a few photos and a video call.
The clinic reviews itWe pass it to your clinic, which looks at the photos or talks to you by video and says what it recommends.
Fix it locally or returnSmall things can often be handled by a UK dentist using your records. If a guarantee issue needs treatment in person, the clinic plans it and we help you organise the return visit.

Get urgent help if you have

swelling that is spreading, or swelling of the face or neck
a high temperature or feeling generally unwell
bleeding that won’t stop with gentle pressure
pain that keeps getting worse after the first few days

Contact an emergency dentist or NHS 111 straight away – then let us and your clinic know. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 999.

Guarantees

Your guarantee, in writing

Guarantees differ from clinic to clinic – some, for example, contribute to flights and hotel for a repair visit in the first year. We show each clinic’s terms in your quote before you choose.

Usually covered

Clinical and workmanship problems – a crown that breaks, a veneer that comes away, an implant that doesn’t integrate
The clinic’s cost of putting it right
Often longer cover on crowns, veneers and implant parts than on the first-year package

Usually not covered

Accidental damage – a fall, a sports injury, biting something you shouldn’t
Problems caused by skipping your aftercare
In-person care in the UK – your dentist at home charges their usual fees

Keeping it valid

A yearly check-up with a panoramic X-ray and professional clean – with your UK dentist or at the clinic
Wearing your night guard if one was prescribed
Good daily hygiene and following the written instructions

At home

Working with your UK dentist

Keep seeing your own dentist for check-ups. Bringing the right records makes that easy.

Bring your records

Your X-rays, treatment plan and any implant passport – so your dentist knows exactly what was placed.

Keep your check-ups

Regular check-ups and hygiene visits protect the work and are often a condition of the guarantee.

Follow-up trips

Implants usually need a second visit after healing. Your coordinator helps you plan it around the clinic’s dates.

FAQ

Aftercare questions

Can’t find yours? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person will answer.

Is aftercare included in the price?+

Follow-up appointments during your stay, remote follow-ups by phone or WhatsApp once you’re home, your records and written instructions are normally part of the treatment price – check your quote. What no clinic abroad can provide is in-person care in the UK: your yearly check-up at home is with your own dentist, at their normal fees.

How long does aftercare last?+

Active aftercare – healing checks and follow-ups – runs through your recovery, up to around six months for implants. Guarantee cover usually runs much longer, often several years on crowns and veneers, as long as you keep a yearly check-up with a panoramic X-ray and professional clean.

Will a UK dentist look after teeth treated abroad?+

For check-ups, cleaning and small repairs, yes. Some UK dentists are cautious about unfamiliar work, which is why records matter: a dentist who can see the implant brand and your clinical history can look after it. We favour clinics using implant systems that are standard in the UK.

What does Smile & Stay do if there’s a problem?+

Your coordinator is your first point of contact: we pass the details to your clinic, keep you updated and help organise a return visit if one is needed. The clinic is responsible for the treatment and its guarantee.