Dental FAQs for Bali Visitors and Residents

Some Bali clinics see urgent cases on the same day, but availability depends on the clinic's hours and schedule. Send an appointment request and tick the urgent box; the clinic will contact you to confirm the earliest time it can see you. Opening hours will be listed on this site once they are confirmed.

Rinse with warm salt water, keep your head raised at night and avoid very hot, cold or sweet food on that side. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help if it's safe for you, following the pack dose. Never put aspirin directly on the gum, as it burns the tissue. A cold pack on the outside of the cheek can ease swelling. These steps buy time but don't fix the cause, so arrange an appointment.

Many travel policies cover emergency pain relief up to a set limit but not routine or cosmetic work. Check your policy wording, and keep an itemised invoice, proof of payment, treatment notes and any X-rays to make your claim.

The dentist reviews your medical and dental history, examines each tooth for decay and cracks, checks your gums and bite, and screens the soft tissues of your mouth for anything unusual. X-rays are taken if they're needed. You then get an explanation of the findings and a written plan.

A routine check-up for a returning patient often takes around 20-30 minutes. A first visit, or a visit combined with a clean, usually takes longer. The clinic will confirm the time when it books you in.

No. X-rays are taken when the dentist needs them to see decay between teeth, check old fillings, look at wisdom teeth or investigate pain. How often depends on your risk. If you've had recent X-rays at home, bring copies or ask your home dentist to email them, which may avoid repeating them.

A scale and polish removes plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth, usually with an ultrasonic scaler and fine hand instruments, then polishes the surfaces to remove stains. It usually includes a quick gum check and advice on cleaning at home.

A routine clean often takes around 30-45 minutes. If there's a lot of tartar, or you need a deeper clean below the gumline, it may take longer or be split into more than one visit.

Most people feel vibration, water spray and some scraping, but not pain. If your gums are inflamed or your teeth are sensitive, it can feel uncomfortable in places. Tell the dentist or hygienist; they can slow down, adjust the scaler or use a numbing gel.

A single small filling often takes 20-40 minutes. Larger fillings or several teeth in one visit take longer. Most fillings are finished in one appointment.

The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you'll feel pressure and vibration but not pain. The injection itself can sting briefly; a numbing gel is often used first. Your lip and cheek may stay numb for a couple of hours.

Most tooth-coloured fillings are composite resin, a mix of plastic and fine glass particles that's shaded to match your tooth and set with a curing light. Glass ionomer is another tooth-coloured option often used near the gumline or for temporary repairs. The materials used at the clinic will be confirmed before treatment.

Many root canals take one or two visits, and some complex or badly infected teeth need three. Front teeth with one canal are often quicker than molars. If you're visiting Bali, tell the clinic your travel dates so the visits can be planned, and ask whether a temporary seal will hold until you get home.

Allow for one to three root canal visits, then a crown, which usually takes two visits several days apart. In total that can mean one to two weeks depending on the tooth and the lab. If you don't have that long, the root canal can be finished in Bali and the crown fitted by your home dentist.

Most back teeth (molars and premolars) need a crown after a root canal because the tooth becomes more brittle and can crack when chewing. Front teeth often only need a filling. Your dentist will explain which applies to your tooth.

Most crowns take two visits several days apart: one to prepare the tooth and take an impression or scan, and one to fit the final crown. Some clinics with in-house CAD/CAM milling can make a crown the same day; the options at the clinic will be confirmed.

Plan on at least several days to a week between the first and second visit, plus a spare day before your flight in case the bite needs adjusting. A bridge or several crowns may need longer. Share your travel dates when you request an appointment so the clinic can plan the lab work.

It depends on the tooth. Zirconia is very strong and suits back teeth and people who grind. Lithium disilicate (E.max) looks very natural and suits front teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal is a long-established option that's strong but can show a dark edge over time. The dentist will explain which materials are available and why one suits your tooth.

The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure but not sharp pain. Once the numbness wears off, soreness for a few days is normal and usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief.

Most people can fly a day or two after a simple extraction once bleeding has stopped. After a surgical or wisdom tooth extraction, follow your dentist's advice and avoid diving until the area has healed. Plan the extraction early in your stay if you can.

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) happens when the blood clot in the socket is lost too early, leaving bone exposed. It causes a strong, throbbing pain two to four days after the extraction. To avoid it, don't smoke or vape, don't drink through a straw, don't rinse hard for the first 24 hours and avoid alcohol for a few days. If you think you have it, contact the clinic; it's treatable.

This page covers cosmetic options that work with your natural teeth, such as composite bonding, enamel contouring, professional whitening and cosmetic crowns. The exact treatments offered will be confirmed by the clinic before you book. Implants, veneers and aligners are not treatments listed on this site.

Composite bonding uses tooth-coloured resin to repair chips, close small gaps or change the shape of a tooth. The material is shaded to match, sculpted directly onto the tooth and hardened with a curing light. It usually needs little or no drilling and is often done in one visit.

Bonding commonly lasts around 5-7 years before it needs polishing, repairing or replacing, depending on your bite and habits. It can chip if you bite nails, pens or ice, and it can pick up stains from coffee and red wine over time.

Results vary. Many people see their teeth become several shades lighter, but the final shade depends on your natural tooth colour, the type of stain and the method used. Yellowish stains respond best; grey stains are harder to lift. Your starting and final shades are recorded so you can see the change.

An in-chair session usually takes around 60-90 minutes, including the check, gum protection and several rounds of gel. Take-home whitening is worn for a set time each day or night over one to two weeks.

It can. Peroxide temporarily makes teeth more sensitive to cold, usually for a day or two. A desensitising toothpaste before and after, fluoride gel, or spacing out sessions can help. Tell the dentist if you already have sensitive teeth.