Hey Russ,

It has been a while since I have been on and everything is so changed!! I have a question: I just had a tooth that was causing pain refilled (2005 amalgam removed, composit placed by dentist A) by dentist B(this one holistic). Long story, but it is too high and after going back in to correct (I was charged $32 for this)it is still not right and now I have more pain in that tooth than before. I'm very mad at dentist B because even though I knew she would be more expensive than a regular dentist,she seems to be really ripping people off. My old dentist charges $150 for a filling and dentist B charged me $377 and then the additional $32. I want my money back as she didn't do anything but cause me more pain. Do I have a leg to stand on?

Very sorry to hear about this situation. How frustrating.

Well, if you live in the United States, anyone can sue anyone. The only problem is that you have to consider the cost. If you're using a lawyer, it's often not going to be worth it unless you are recovering thousands of dollars.

Another option is that many states have a small-claims court system that allows recovery of smaller amounts with just a judge. This usually costs between $20 and $50 for fees, but you can recover some or all of your money (minus court fees).

You would just have to check and see if you are in any legal contract with your dentist (signed or not). If you are, it likely states that you are obligated to pay whether or not your dental problem is solved by the work done.

However, this contract may or may not be legally binding based on state dental regulations. It may just be there to scare people out of suing them.

So, you have to do some research and see if you have a case worth bringing. You also have to count the cost of your time invested.


--- This is not legal advice.