Most people expect to walk into a dentist's office and receive dental care. They do not expect to be turned away or refused care or restorative dental procedures based on health reasons. It is becoming more common to refuse general dental and restorative dental care based upon undiagnosed and untreated disorders and health problems. The dentist does have to tell you why he or she has refused care. Here are some of those disorders and health problems that will get you sent home without sitting in the dental exam chair.

High Blood Pressure

It has become common practice for dentists to check for high blood pressure. Since Novocaine can elevate blood pressure to dangerous levels in some people, your dentist can refuse restorative dental care if you are not being treated for high blood pressure. The irony is that, if you are on high blood pressure medication, the administration of Novocaine will still elevate your blood pressure but the medication for it keeps it low enough that the dentist may be willing to take the risk.

Bone Cancer and Severe Osteoporosis

Undiagnosed or untreated bone cancer or severe osteoporosis may also cause your dentist to refuse care. In both cases, your bones are too fragile for the dentist to handle while treating your teeth for cavities, removing badly damaged teeth, or capping or crowning your teeth. Rather than risk a broken jaw, the dentist will refer you back to your doctor for examination, diagnosis and treatment of these bone diseases.

Bleeding Disorders

There are two bleeding disorders that may cause your dentist to turn you away. Untreated hemophilia is dangerous, regardless of the situation. If you are not currently on medication and you know you have hemophilia, you could bleed to death if the dentist so much as bumps your jaw. Another bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disorder, causes a different kind of clotting problem.

If your gums begin to bleed while the dentist or hygienist is cleaning and examining your teeth, you could bleed your way into an ambulance ride to the hospital. As such, your dentist needs to know if you have one of these two bleeding disorders, if there is a genetic history of either disorder in your family, and whether or not you are currently on medication for a bleeding disorder. Obviously, most people do not bleed to death while sitting in the dental chair, and most dentists do not want that to happen to their patients either. Ergo, the refusal of care.