My husband has an acute dental problem -- we will be in Port Douglas for the next 3 days. Can anyone refer us to a good dentist immediately? (we are US citizens, so insurance is not an issue -- we just want someone reputable!)

Cee, in case nobody gets back with a specific recommendation, Australian dentists operate to very high professional standards, and you'd be very unlucky to find a "disreputable" one. I suggest you get hold of the local Yellow Pages and use the first dentist you can get an appointment with - if not in Port Douglas, in Cairns.

Yes, Patricia Rimmer or Lee Ovaska in Smithfield, north of Cairns. However you'd be very lucky to get an appointment at such short notice, but they may have a cancellation. You could also try the Gentle Dental Group, 85 Lake St, Cairns - phone4051 2142 - and specialise in tourist emergency dental treatment.

Hello Cee,

If it's any consolation to you, my dad had a dental emergency in Sydney. Admittedly it was in Sydney which is a much larger city than Cairns or Port Douglas, so the selection of dentists was larger. Nonetheless, he just went to whichever dentist had an opening for him, and he was very happy with the treatment he received.

All the best to your husband. Hope the problem is resolved, and you can resume your trip and enjoy yourselves.

A reputable dentist?

Makes me laugh.

hee hee

Anyway hope you get it sorted. I went to a dentist in Mexico once and it will be a better experience in Australia for your husband if that is any comfort.

Hope your trip is great so far btw, hope you are having too much fun (dental sessions aside).

Cee, I guess I was trying to say that Australia isn't a third-world country. My apologies if you didn't mean it that way, but the standard of health care here is at least comparable to that in the US. And nobody in this country (I hope) would turn you away if you didn't have insurance. We haven't reached that point yet. Hopefully we won't.

When I was in Port Douglas, I too, needed a dentist. The manager of the apartment complex( where we were renting) gave me the name of her personal dentist.

What a difference from the states. The dentist was very willing to accomodate me, even if it was after hours. He was dressed in shorts and sockless shoes and he apologized for having to charge me...(an amount which was MUCH less than in the states).

He told me he recieved his dental training in England.

The whole experience was laid back and ( if this is possible for a dentist) ..even pleasant.

The visit to the dentist became part of our exposure to Aussie culture.

To all who replied: thank you! He did get to see a very good dentist in Port Douglas who examined him, gave him some antibiotics, xrayed the tooth, and charged less than a cleaning in the US!!!! This is a wonderful, helpful forum, and thanks to all we continued our vacation with no more problems.