Yeah thats because we’re doctors in the ER not dentists. And lots of our “ toothache” patients are notorious drug seekers.
I hate seeing dental patients in the ER. It’s a waste of the patients time and mine. And I always love the “ I don’t have dental insurance” explanation for why they are in the ER. Usually they have money for their cell phone, smokes, drugs and tattoos , but not for the dentist.
I know that oral surgeons sometimes get called in at our ER for reconstruction after accidents. Not sure about routine dental care; I’ll ask. But I know they had a dental “OR” for a while for kids’ Medicaid work.
I understand where you are coming from. Agree totally. In general the ER here is continually filled with such. People used to avoid the ER if they could, and just wait till their docs could get them in, unless it was a true emergency.
Sometimes the ER now is so full of non - emergencies, that it is hard to get to the ones who truly need to be there.