How should I handle this situation? Should I file a complaint?

Hi there! I have never been betrayed by anyone in my experience in dealing with others, either professionally or not. Every time I need to go to my dentist and have something fixed in my teeth, she diagnose it first, check every corner of my mouth to see what needs to be repaired in one schedule. She explains everything to me, what procedure I need to undergo and how much would it cost me. If I say no or some other time, she would tell me honestly if I need immediately or it can wait and that it's not urgent. What ever we agreed on my consultation that is what she does in my next visit. In your case I think you can file a complaint because you are only scheduled to have a cavity filled. If the dentist didn't see beforehand that something other than the cavity needs repairing and so that's why he/she decided to have it done in one go, the fact that you are unaware of that, he/she should have not proceeded with it. He can't ask you if it's ok with you cause you are sedated but that's not an excuse. Do you have any proof like a piece of paper that you're schedule for a cavity filling only?

I'm a bit speechless when i finish reading your post. I can feel like you've been betrayed and have to go through the pain. I have been in your situation before, but luckily I'd take the control before they overcharge me. Last 3 months i had my chicken pox, so we as a student we have coupon to go for clinic panel that under our school. So i met this doctor and he told me about the medicine that I'm going to take, he mention the medical things, which i totally have no idea about it. This is the first time I had a chicken pox, i don't know if there is any medicine we need to take, as what i know is that it will naturally gone in two weeks. So, finish meeting the doctor and go through all the medical terms, i went out and wait for the medicine. The nurse called out my name and gave me the medicine and told me the amount i need to pay.I have to coupons with me with each cost $35, so i have $70 to pay them. With that 2 coupons in their hand, they told me I'm still short of $190. What?? I never know medicine for chicken pox can cost this much. At first i was thinking to go to ATM machine and withdraw the money, because they pack up all my medicine already. But at that time i also rushing to get to the airport, because i want to spend my two weeks with chicken pox with my family. I definitely cannot make it to the airport if i go for the ATM. I told the nurse, i want to cut out all the other medicine which i can get it at my hometown, and i need to rush to the airport. Think back of that time, i feel so lucky that i don't go to the ATM and withdraw money for the clinic. I told my friend after that, everyone said I don't have to get such medicine, just drink lot of water and everything will gone in 2 weeks. The doctor and the nurse also know that we are the student, and very rare for student that can afford to pay for that costly medicine. The doctor also didn't mention how much is the medicine and do i really really need the medicine. Walking out from the clinic, i feel like I'm almost been cheated by them. And they took my two coupons, which cost $70, and in return they gave me vitamin and calamine lotion. I definitely know it won't cost that much, and i argue with them, they said, they put a chop mark on my coupon already. In your case, if i am you, i feel it's hard to argue with them anymore since they did everything already. I'll be more careful in the future, and clarify every thing and total amount i need to pay for all the procedure. probably, i won't go back for the same dentist. Sorry if my stories too long =)

I am like you...I hate the noises and I have this huge fear. I think it is my age and being exposed to the old way dentists did things back in the day. Now they have so much more painless procedures. Knowing that, doesn't alter my fear. My dentist laughs and goes along with my fears trying to ease me. I have been with the same one for 16 years. He also knows my financial situation and works with me. I pay a little extra to be numbed up even tho he insists that I don't need to be....I get numbed up for cleanings even. If he finds anything beyond the planned that needs to be done, he discusses it with me, tells me the cost and urges me to get it done asap and even tells me if it can hold off for a bit. He has NEVER surprised me with such a cost. I pay as I go and he would not want to do all that work and then not get paid. If he did...well...I would expect him to work out a plan for payment with me. My dentist is good-hearted enough that I know that if he did it that he would do it because it was needed and would work out a payment plan with me. If I were you, I would call him and talk to him about this. There are some that will take advantage. I have a friend who visited the dentist and hadn't been in a long while. She was a new patient. He told her that she needed 7 cavities filled and a root canal. Costly and she was devestated. I told her to get a 2nd opinion. She had a beautiful smile and in the past, never a cavity. She went to my dentist ...hmmm...no cavities!

As a person that has had a lot, and I do mean A LOT of dental work, I think I may have a tiny bit of insight into your situation. First of all, it's not uncommon at all for my dentist to quote me a price and then while he's doing whatever, something else comes up. It's happened with different dentists and the one I have now is really trustworthy. I don't think he would overcharge you on purpose. The part that really makes me wonder is when you talk about the metal being shoved into your gum and the feeling he was working on a different tooth. Are you positive he was working on a different tooth or did it just feel that way? The reason I ask is because there is a little metal band that goes around your tooth to keep the dentist from harming the other teeth beside it. It does shove up in your gums and it's a very unpleasnt feeling. When my dentist does this, it really feels like he's doing something to the tooth beside the one he's working on, but in reality, it just feels that way because of the metal band. When my dentist does start to do something that we hadn't originally discussed, he is very good about telling me exactly what he's doing. He even offers me a mirror to see for myself, but I usually decline because who would want to see that yuckiness? Gums bleeding, teeth being drilled...no thanks! Your dentist should have told you, but maybe he thought you were too out of it to understand? I don't know...I hate to take up for your dentist, but I always figured they're the professionals. What do I know about teeth?

If he is honest and just forgot to tell you up front, he saved you another trip to the dentist.If he is dishonest, it's time to find another dentist.I guess I would give him the benefit of the doubt. Tell him next time you go that you will not pay for procedures not approved. Tell him you did not approve the last one. I would pay but keep an eye out to see if he is always trying to tack on more charges.If he is, try a new dentist!!

You should file a complaint now. They should never do any work on you without you knowing about it beforehand and agreeing to have it done.

You're in the US and I'm pretty sure you had a legal right to be notified and approve things in advance, so I'd say you have a legitimate complaint. You can complain to the dentist and there are agencies you can complain to too. It just depends on where you want to take it.

I would definatly think about filing a complaint. He shoudln't hve done any work on your mouth with out going over it with you first. You had agreed to have the two cavities filled and that was all. What i you weren't/aren't able to pay? I had a similar problem with my car once. I took it in to have a couple minor things fixed on it, and had tlaked with them in advance and ound out that depending on how long it would take them to fix it, the bill shoudln't be more than between 100 and 150 dollars, when i went to get my car, they told me the grand total was $360 ...which i didn't have as i had only budgeted to spend no more than 150 dollars on this. Turns out they found a couple of other things wrong with it and went ahead anf fixed them with out checking with me first. I had to get the manager, explain to him that i hadn't authorized these repairs and coudln't pay for them, but needed my car. Luckily he was nice enough to let me pay $150 and take my car, but i had to make payments on the rest of the repairs within a couple weeks. Which i did, begrudgingly, and in the long run these were things that were oging to have to be fixed anyways, i just wants planning on fixing them right away! Many people after that said i should have looked into filing a claim agianst him and not paying the rest since it wan't authorized, but at the time i didn't have the knowledge to do such.