I went to the dental surgery recommended to me today. I left feeling very miffed and short-changed. The checkup was a joke. I lieterally went into the room, the "dentist" told me to sit on the chair and open my mouth. I found that a little strange as I thought she'd ask me what the problem was first. So i took it upon myself to tell her what i felt was the problem. She tapped on the wrong tooth with her tool and i had to redirect her again. Her colleague came in, a rather slimey man i thought and they started speaking rapidly in french. Her English was a bit limited which made me feel isolated as I felt she couldn't articulate herself as well as she should have.

She then took an x-ray and she and her colleague immediately alunched into perices ranging from £200 to £300. I had to stop them and actually ask what the problem with my tooth was and they said my "filling was not good, they recommended a ceramic(very expensive) or a gold filling. No explanation as to why the filling isn't good. I tried to explain that the gum bleeds sometimes when i brush my tooth to which the guy asked if i was using a hard toothbrush. They never checked the rest of my teeth and they ushered me down to get the full spctrum of NHS prices and to book an apointment for next time.

I think that was the moment when i should have just left and never went back. YOu see i have been seeing a dentist privatelybut due to circumstances I can't so that anymore and i just found the whole thing today overwhelming and bewildering. In the end, I had to put sdown a deposit for when they did the rest of the treatement which is supposed to be making an impression of my tooth( whatever that means) and sending it to the lab and then clenaing and polishing my teeth.

To cut the lonf story short, I paid £50, which i now understand i can't get back or even part of it. They said if I can't afford all the treatement then i have to claim the money from the NHS and they gave me several confusing forms to fill out. An HC5 and HC1 because they can't give me back money once they have taken it, even if it's from a debit/credit card. How true is this?

I want to get a second opinion because i was very dissatistied with the level of care and also i want to ascertain that the work really needs to be done. I also want to getsome of my money back and so if anyone knows how i can do that without all these confusing forms i am all ears please. im concerned because i would have to send in my original receipts and so what would i have if they "got lost". I should only have paid £15 but i guess i felt undwer pressure to put the down payment for the rest of the treatement although i'm not sure i want treatment from them. I don't trust them and i have entrusted someone with my teeth before with some disastrous results.

Can anyone advice please? I think a second opinion is in order but where to get one is a real bitch. It beggars belief that they don't take my gum being inflamed seriously. I know it's my fault for going through with the AP but i was and still am desperate.

Help please