If a new patient walks into an office and is not yet a patient of record, does the dentist have a legal obligation to see them?

• A. Yes, all new patients must be seen immediately
• B. Yes, within 24 hours
• C. No, only if the patient has proof of insurance
• D. No, since he's not a patient of record

Answer: (D)

Not having a patient-of-record relationship means there isn’t an automatic, ongoing duty to see every walk-in. A dentist is not obliged to treat every person who steps in the door simply because they’re not yet enrolled in the practice. The main exception is emergencies, where a clinician has a professional duty to provide care or stabilize the patient. Absent an emergency, the practice can set its own policies for new patients, such as scheduling or referrals. That’s why the correct understanding is that there’s no obligation to see a new person just because they aren’t a patient of record.