It’s happened to me, and it can be a miserable flying with a toothache. If a tooth is throbbing or sensitive when you’re traveling, what can you do to make yourself more comfortable until you can get to the dentist?

Dr. Nancy Rosen is one of New York City’s leading practitioners of cosmetic and restorative dentistry and appears as a frequent guest expert on national television as well as in magazines and newspapers. Once again, I knew she had the answers.

Carolyn: “How long do you typically have to wait before flying if you have had any dental work done?”
Dr. Rosen: “If you have had fillings, crowns, veneers, cleanings done- you can fly right away. If you had an extraction or a root canal done, you should ask the specialist that did the work. He/She may want you to wait a couple of days to make sure there are no complications from the procedure that was done.”

Carolyn: ”There are natural gases in your body that expand after take off (all gases expand), and contract on landing that cause tooth pain? What does it mean and what should you do about it?”
Dr. Rosen: ”Toothaches may occur at altitude due to abcesses, broken filiings, inadequately filled root canals. Anyone that suffers from a toothache during a flight should see his/her dentist. However the pain caused by a sinus block can be mistaken for a toothache. If you are in flight and this happens you can try to clear your ears and see if the pain goes away. If it doesn’t, take some Advil and see your dentist when you arrive at your destination.”

Carolyn: “What’s the best way to nurse a dental problem until you get back to your dentist?”
Dr. Rosen: “Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen are the best medications you can take for discomfort. If a filling has come out of a tooth- you can keep the area very clean by brushing and flossing or you can try to go to a drug store and purchase dental temporary paste. Flollow the instructions and contact your dentist once you get home.”

Carolyn: Thank you Dr. Rosen for your insightful and helpful advice!

Having back pain (or injuries) and then having to fly… well its just not an easy endeavor. And so it is my pleasure to speak with Dr. Kyle Worell and get his advice for those who are flying post injury or surgery.

Dr. Worell is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic in New York, practicing both in Manhattan and Westchester. He specializes in spine and sports rehabilitation and is the team chiropractor for Team Continuum, an athletic based chartiy organization raising money for Cancer patients through participation in events such as marathons and triathlons.

In addition, Dr. Worell is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a provider and post-graduate instructor of the well known, highly effective manual therapy technique Active Release Technique (ART).

Carolyn: As you know, its very challenging for passengers to move around on most flights. What do you suggest for someone who has back pain (or stiffness from a surgery/injury) if they are going to be on a long flight?

Dr. Worell: Flight travel is certainly hard on the body.  More so if you have a history of lower back pain or surgery. The sitting position, which is proving to be the modern day occupational hazard for the body, is tough on the lumbar spine.  The posture that one ineveitably sits in, coupled with the design of most airplane seats, takes a toll on the lower back on even the shortest of flights.  It is the position that most people adopt while seated that hurts us most.

The sitting position increases pressure on the lumbar spine discs greatly.  Depending on the posture during sitting (more forward bending, slumping or slouching) it can be as much as (approximately) 3 times that of standing pressure on the lumbar discs.  Stiffness is a function of compression on the lumbar spine and the response of the muscular and soft tissues in this region. [Read more →]

Even though its still a bit chilly here in New York, it’s time for spring vacations. So I asked Dr. Shirley Madhere for a few tips on how best we can both enjoy the balmy warmth of our vacations and protect ourselves from the sun.

A well-known and highly respected plastic surgeon, Dr. Shirley (as she is most often called) approaches treatment from a holistic perspective that integrates cutting-edge Western medicine with a variety of complementary modalities in order to ensure the best possible care and outcomes for her patients.

Carolyn: “With everybody headed toward the sun, which sunscreen do you like best?”
Dr. Madhere: “In general, a broad –spectrum sunscreen that covers both UVA and UVB rays is best. I recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sx.”

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As my go-to person for anything related to skin care or cosmetic surgery, I asked well-known holistic plastic surgeon Dr. Shirley Madhere about particular precautions we need to take when traveling post-plastic surgery.

Dr. Shirley (as she is most often called) approaches treatment from a holistic perspective that integrates cutting-edge Western medicine with a variety of complementary modalities in order ensure the best possible care and outcomes for her patient.

Carolyn:“How long, typically, do you have to wait after minor surgery to fly?”
Dr. Madhere: “A minimum of one (1) week.  However, after plastic surgery, it is advisable not to be at complete rest, since deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) may occur up to one (1) month (4 weeks) after surgery.”

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Having any kind of tooth problem can really put a damper on your travel experience, and it always helps to know what to do in a dental emergency. Dr. Nancy Rosen is one of New York City’s leading practitioners of cosmetic and restorative dentistry and appears as a frequent guest expert on national television as well as in magazines and newspapers. Therefore, I knew she was just the person to give sound, useful advice to my readers.

Carolyn: “What do you do if you break a tooth in-flight or on a trip? How do you fix it for the short term?”
Dr. Rosen: “If you fracture a tooth in-flight- if you can leave it alone until you can find a dentist to help you.  If the fractured tooth is very sharp, cutting into your tongue or cheek and you have a long flight ahead of you- try to gently smooth the area with an emory board or nail file.  If you are on a trip, try to find a reputable dentist in the area and have him/her treat the problem.  The hotel concierge can probably recommend a great local dentist.”

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