Mandatory treatment for dental emergencies?

If someone had a dental emergency are dentists required to treat them? It would not be cosmetic work such as a crown or cap, it is a broken tooth with possible exposed nerve. Would a dentist be required to treat someone in the state of WI even if they had no insurance and no cash to pay at the time of treatment?

Mandatory treatment for dental emergencies?
Not in New Jersey, but I admit I don't know about Wisconsin. I'm only answering in case nobody else does.





In my state, if you go to a publicly funded hospital, they are required to treat you regardless of your ability to pay. Unfortunately, unless they have a dentist on the staff, you will only receive a prescription for antibiotics and MAYBE one or two pills for pain and that's it. They will tell you to "go see a dentist."





It makes sense that someone who receives public funding might be required to treat people under these conditions, but it also makes no sense at all that a private business – which is what the typical dental practice is – can be required to do so.
Reply:As far as I know. NO! My boyfriend has a wisdom tooth comming in very hurtful, and i a very wrong direction. also he is getting an infection from it! we called all the dentist in town and they won't don anything without insurance or 700 up front we have neither! its retarded
Reply:As a dental assistant, I can tell you that we can refuse treatment to anyone. What most people consider "emergencies" really are not. If a tooth has been causing pain for 2 weeks and someone decide to call at 2 in the evening to demand an apt. that day, it is not an emergency.


If someone is in pain, and is a patient of record, we will do our very best to fit them in that day, or at least call them in some antibiotics or pain relievers until we can schedule an apt. for them.


As far as having no insurance or cash, I know it's hard, but you have to pay for services. You wouldn't go to the grocery store and lay a bunch of food on the counter and say, "Thanks, I was really hungry. I'll pay ya later!" It just doesn't work that way. People have to take responsibility for themselves and be sure to have money put away for emergencies.


Best Wishes!
Reply:That only works at the emergency room. And if you go there, unless you want the tooth pulled, you'll wait 8 hours for a bottle of ibuprofen.