Dentist has damaged my tooth so I have no choice but carry on with him?

[Hangingthread]

Can anyone help with a dental situation. My (NHS) dental practice was sold in Autumn last year. I am incredibly nervous of dental work and had built up my confidence with my old dentist. When he left I was automatically reallocated to a new dentist. On my first appointment he said I needed 3 fillings (all repairs to existing fillings). I had no pain at this point. I paid for a white private filling and it was an awful experience. He overfilled the tooth and over drilled it and only now do I realise cracked the back of the tooth (back molar). From the moment I walked out I was in discomfort – left it a few weeks hoping the drilling had upset things and it would settle down. I have never chewed on that side since. Yesterday I went back and he started drilling again. I hit the roof in pain. Xray showed that the nerve and root were damaged and he said he was going to numb, drill out the filling and put a temporary filling in to see if it calmed down and then redo the filling. He gave me anaesthetic which I now realise had adrenalin in which I had a reaction to as I was shaking like a leaf and my heart was hammering so fast I thought it was going to break out. And I was still in pain everytime he drilled. He drilled away with me crying and calling out in pain for half and hour and then said I needed a root canal. I don’t want to go back to that man as he was clearly frustrated with how I was coping with it and didn’t listen that I was still in pain. I’m also terrified that I could still feel everything and my reaction to the anaesthetic. But what option do I have as its nearly impossible to get an NHS dentist elsewhere and I’m not currently in a position to pay over £500 for the procedure. Plus I think he has caused this situation. Is there any option for me that anyone is aware of?

Is there another dentist in the practice?
Or anyway you can get onto another list?

I had a similar issue when my dentist somehow accidentally drilled into 2 sound teeth when trying to fix a broken back tooth. The pain was horrific.

I was lucky in that i have a friend who is a dentist and he was able to sort it out and that's how I know for sure that 2 teeth were damaged by her error. I now have a massive amount of dental work holding in 3 molars which should have been a quick cap job to fix a bit of a chipped tooth.
(The tooth chipped while I was away with another dentist friend so I knew what should have been done)

I know it's impossible to get dentists and they are so expensive. I was lucky that I was able to walk away from the practice, but looking back I should have kicked up much more of a fuss. (It was the week of my wedding so I didn't have the headspace)

If there is another dentist in the practice start there and complain.

First things first: report this dentist

I’ve booked to see a private dentist on Monday. No local decent ones are taking on NHS patients. I’ve spoken to my existing dental practice today and there is only one other dentist and they’re brothers. I received very poor communication and have lost all confidence in their approach. I feel better that I’ve taken control back by going to see someone else and squared with forking out to cover the cost. I will not return to the practice again and that feels better

I'm sorry this happened to you. Just wanted to say I also react to local anaesthetic like that (shaking etc), it's good to have eaten something beforehand if you can and make sure you sit in the waiting room for a bit afterwards if you're drinking yourself home and maybe have a sugary drink. I'm glad you're not seeing that dentist again too.

It's rubbish that there is no NHS alternative, but agree that if there is any way you can pay for a private trusted or recommended dentist it sounds as though you will be far better off in the long run with no further damage, unnecessary repairs to their poor work and less trauma.