Can a male be treated by a female dentist or doctor?
It is always preferable to visit a doctor of the same gender (if that doctor is equally experienced etc.)
A visit to a doctor of the opposite gender is permissible for necessary medical needs including dental.
Regarding dental procedures which are deemed cosmetic: sometimes the need for a procedure is medical (pain), and it is the method (for instance a root canal instead of just extracting the tooth) which is cosmetic, in such a case it would be permissible even though it is not covered by insurance.
Regarding a procedure which seems to be completely cosmetic (for instance those skin tags which do not pose a risk of infection), a Rov should be informed of the specific details and consulted with.
Important note: all of the above is regarding the issues of touching etc., there is a separate issue of yichud. One should therefore either
- Bring along their spouse or their child (over 5 years of age), or
- Leave the door slightly ajar.
Sources:
ראה ש”ך יו”ד סי’ קצ”ה ס”ק כ’, כרתי ופלתי סי’ הנ”ל ס”ק ו’, נוב”י תניינא יו”ד סי קכ”ב, לקו”ש חלק ט”ז ע’ 589, שו”ע אבה”ע סי’ כ”ב, ועוד.
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