Miscellaneous

Getting Through the Border

This has not been an issue for me so far. I did get questioned vigorously the first time. Border agents are trained to be skeptical and argumentative, but as long as you stay calm and answer each question straight-forwardly you’ll be fine. Orthodontics and surgery are valid reasons for travel, and the basic requirements for entry are:

• Having a valid ESTA.

• Having somewhere to stay, booked in advance, for the entire duration of the trip.

• Having a return ticket.

• Having access to enough money to cover your stay and a reasonable buffer for contingencies like missing a flight.

See ESTA FAQs for more details.

Travel insurance

Entry to the US does not require travel insurance as of 4th February 2024, but if you do get questioned about your financial situation and reasons for travel at the border, having it might help reassure the agent that you’re not going to be a financial burden. I have never been asked about it.

Cleaning a Custom MARPE

It can be tricky to clean and get food bits out from a MARPE. My kit consists of:

• Soft toothbrush
• Medium toothbrush
• Size 6 & 7 (medium-large) interdental brushes (bend to various angles and trim the neck to reach further in if necessary)
• Wisdom tooth brush
• Water flosser with a spray head for softer flow (Philips Sonicare Power Flosser)
• Water, saline, and mouthwash rinses

Occasionally a bit of debris will seem unreachable, but everything eventually succumbs to a combination of the above tools.