Aspen Dental
reviews and complaints

I made an appointment and went in for a basic tooth cleaning telling them that was the only service I wanted. I had seen them earlier for a couple of fillings and a crown which was basically mediocre work at best, but I have a very busy schedule and most dentist schedules are hard for me to fit into. At that time, I was deluged with a plethora of sales pitches about other products and services that I told them specifically I did not want.

When I got there for my cleaning, I was presented with a bill, before any treatment started and without any initial consult, for $441.50. I was floored by this. They had added additional procedures that I had specifically requested not to have and even added an expensive electric toothbrush to the bill. I said that all I wanted was a basic cleaning and that was all I was going to authorize and pay for. After 15 min of waiting, they presented me a corrected bill of $11.50 which I paid.

I went into the back for my cleaning and the hygienist spends 15 minutes literally browbeating me to accept these additional services, after all, my insurance will pay for most of it. She treated me like an idiot for not taking these services and that they know better. Then she wanted me to sign papers stating that I refused these additional services. Talk about absolute ridiculousness! I kept trying to tell her to just do what I specifically asked for and got to the point where I said, literally, Shut UP and just clean my teeth. I said that if they didn't, that I would just get up and leave. At that point, the dentist in the next work area comes over and joins the browbeating session. I am reclined in the chair and I just about throw my back out getting up. Their comment: "Don't leave with our stuff", I was still wearing the bib and chain!

I go out and demand a copy of the original bill of $441.50 they presented me with and a refund of my $11.50. They did give me the refund, but refused to give me a copy of the original bill saying that it was Aspen Dental property and I had no right to it. HIPA violation here? All through this process, every employee there was extremely rude! And I thought I was the customer!

After I got home, I went on my insurance company website and found out that Aspen Dental, without my authorization ahead of time, had gotten pre-approvals from my insurance company for Root Scaling and their Visilite cancer screening rip-off product. I think that this is called insurance fraud! I will be filing a complaint both with my insurance company and my state's AG.

Horrible work everything I had done went bad. I am not 3, 000 in debt for a crown with a post that fell out and a filling that went bad. Call them and tell them you are in pain they will give you a appointment in 2 weeks. Pain was so bad went to another dentist he said I had such a abcess it went into my jaw I had just been to aspen for x-rays two days before for my loose crown which the dentist wouldnt' touch all she kept doing was ### about one of my other teeth I needed a root canal in.

I called Aspen Dental 3 days prior to my visit
I explained everything to them over the phone i told them word for word what my visit is going to consist of while i told the lady who answered the phone that i am in dire need of extractions and dentures..

I was set with an appointment i arrived 20 minutes early no one was at the counter there was a sign in sheet and next to the sign in sheet was tons of clipboards that you had to fill out all of your personal information so i grabbed one and i signed in on the time sheet.

I went and had a seat and began filling out my paper work
once i got done i went up to the counter and once again there was no clerk to look over my paper work..

I waited an hour finally i get seen now mind you i have my xrays with me they tell me that they need more than what i brought
so we go in to the room where they take a boat load of xrays
once that was done they escort me to a seat the Dr comes over to me
and takes a look inside my mouth with a small metal hook device and starts tapping on every single tooth and kept saying hmmm hmmmm hmmmm

then preceds to tell me that i need a full denture set for my upper and lower then he gets up and starts writing on his pad of what it is that needs to be done and then tells me to go to the financial office to discuss payment options

i didnt come in to get a full review of my teeth to begin with in the first place i came in there to get the extraction that i told the lady over the phone i made it very clear to the lady what i needed to be done

they tell me that they do not even have a surgeon at there site of location and that there surgeon comes in on the second week of every month
so whats the surgeon doing when someone needs to have surgery
is he in florida sipping on a martini i mean come on

not only was it a complete waste of my time but i lost 4 hours of missing work only to be told that it was going to cost me 6.621 dollars to have what is needed to be done

then they tell me that they have pay plan but you need to have
2 forms of identification with an expiration date on them

i dont have 2 only one and the price to have all my teeth fixed was competely over the limit with my expense

I feel like i was rushed with the xrays seen by some quack
and didnt even give a damn about my personal needs
and only wanted to have the money more than to have a customers trust

Never Never Again Will i go to Aspen Dental
I warned All my friends and family members on how Aspen Dental treats there patients
its not about the patients or customers
Its all about the money and that is sad very sad

And if your credit is bad or shaky they dont want to do business with you

signed
Ray F

I have visited Aspen Dental approx. 5 times since June of 09. I have had some expensive work done, including an upper partial and lower partial. I have had many problems with the upper and it is very obvious that there is a partial there. It looks horrible! The upper was attached to a crown which fell out because of removing the partial on a daily basis, I'm guessing loosened the crown. When I returned to the office, I was told we could save the tooth by performing a root canal. The specialist that could perform the root canal would not be in for 2 more weeks, and was told that I would be fine waiting that long. When I went to my appt. I was told that he would not perform the root canal, it was too extensive. Had I know that I would have had it done sooner, and a lot closer to home, I was so angry, I demanded my money back and was told that I would have to wait for the approval from the Syracuse office.
Now with the lover partial, I must have visited the office 3 or 4 times, one of the days being a full day visit. I live and hour and 15 minutes away, I always had to take a full day off work for all of my visits. Why in the world did it take 4 visits for a lower partial is beyond me, but I continued to go there because I had already paid for everything, and instead of the hassle of trying to get sa refund I foolishly continued going. I will NEVER return or recommend ANYONE to ASPEN DENTAL EVER! This has probbably the most horrifying experience I have EVER had with a medical office.

I just finished reading the hundreds of complaints against Aspen Dental. Some of these stories are nightmares that never end.

The comment about the ever changing parade of dentists - totally correct. In the one-year I was a patient - I saw 5 different dentists. They don't stick around and there is no one there to actually follow the patient through out the entire process.

They conveniently broke the mold for my teeth, thereby giving them an excuse for teeth that don't match or fit. I am on set number 3 (including the temp set at the beginning of the process).

The pain is constant and god forbid if you have a full upper and partial lower plate - because they will never line up. After several office visits and attempts to adjust them - they're now so ground down that you cannot wear the lowers at all because not only do they not line up - there isn't anything there to help chew the food. You're actually doomed to eat soft food or soup...period.

They're called ComfyDents and ComfyLites...what a joke. There is nothing - absolutely nothing - comfortable about these teeth.

How do we go about getting a Class-Action law suit against them?

I've read all of the hundreds of complaints from acrss the country against Aspen Dental. And, I concur the the masses that there should be a class-action lawsuit filed against them. They've not only duped their customers, they've double-dipped when insurance covered some of the expense and they still charged the customers.

What I have't read on-line is one comment saying something good about them.

I too am a patient of Aspen Dental and it's been a 2-year nightmare with pain, teeth that don't fit and not being able to eat normally.

It's time to hold them accountable.

My husband was told that his "Total Treatment Amount" would be $6, 354.00. So far they have charged his insurance company and Care Credit a total of $7, 448.00, and they still have not finished his treatment. Aspen Dental still has yet to do a filling, Crown w/buildup, mold for his permanent teeth and getting his permanent teeth. We have spoken to Aspen Dental a minimum of 5 times so farand they keep telling us "I will check into and take care of the problem" with an erroneous billing. Now we are fighting a bill that they say is "over-due". When they started my husbands treatment, they pulled 14 teeth all at one time and they did not even give him nothing to put him out, they just gave him shots in the gums. He tried letting them know that he was in extreme pain but they would not stop pulling the teeth. He had tears rolling and they would not stop. When he had a problem with his temporary teeth, he went back in, over a week later because they were only taking GM retirees so they could get the last of the money from them before their benefits changed, and they were so snotty, mean and ruff with taking the dentures out and outting them back in.
BE WARNED, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT GO TO ASPEN DENTAL FOR ANY WORK UNLESS YOU ARE INTO MASSIVE PAIN AND GETTING FINANCIALLY RIPPED OFF.

In April of 2009 I went to Aspen Denatal for new dentures. When I said I wanted white teeth, they said I had to discuss it with the dentist. She said that white looks fake. No it doesn't! Anyway they made me new uppers and lowers for $2000.00. When I went for the wax fitting I couldn't stop biting my lips. They said this would not happen with the finishe product. I went back when they were finished and I could not believe that they expected me to where these teeth! They were way to small for my mouth and made me look 20 years older. They also did not fit. They made a new set which were alittle better but I could not eat without biting my lips and cheeks. Also the bottom denture had these huge flares in the back which the dentist said were to stabilize it and had to be there. Tons of food went underneath them! I have had dentures for 30 years and nver had any such thing. I decided to return them for a refund. Another dentist there talked me into trying again so I did. The next set fit better but I still constantly bite my lips and they do not fit right. I have no more time to waste with that place and cannot take any more time off from work to deal with them so I guess I am stuck. DO NOT GO THERE! You will be sorry.

I retrieved an envelope from my mailbox addressed from Coast Dental. Once opened I was shocked by this letter which states that I owe $117 of which this is a debt not incurred by me. I disputed this balance that happened 3 to 4 years ago which was understood to be resolved. Years later I am sent a letter which reads: We have previously attempted to contact you regarding your past due balance of $117. as of today, our records indicate that we still have not received your payment. If we do not receive payment within 10 days, your account will be submitted to our Corporate Collection Department. In short, Coast Dental is making false statements about contacting me for a debt 3 or more years old of which was discussed and resolved by phone. They have not contacted me until now and the letter is not sign by an employee nor does it states the date of the debt. If I recall this debt is 3 or 4 years old and no one has contact me until now. Coast Dental did not render service to me so I do not owe them. The office manager at the time assure me of this so why this has come up years later is what I would like to know. Again I repeat they have not attempted to contact me. To my surprise, I am a member of "Credit Keepers" whereby I have my credit monitored, I received an email alert from them indicating that a change post to my credit. To my surprise and anger, it was Coast Dental who reported this balance to a collection agency and it has affected my credit score negatively. I am outrage by this because they have suddenly and aggressively threaten me unjustly. This office has always had problems and complaints and patients leaving. I am not paying for service I did not received. I would like this matter erased from credit and my credit score restored. This office seem to be experiencing audit issues and/or someone job is being jeopardize because Coastal Dental is sending me a 3 or 4 year old debt. No contacts and phone call until now. Coast Dental will be able to provide you with the exact date of this service. Please assist with this unfair debt collection practice. By the way, the letter does not reference a telephone number and employee signature. Very Very unprofessional letter I received from Frank Cerra, no title mentioned. Coast Dental cannot be trusted and I hope they do not go to the extent of falsifying records. I would not put it past them. I never like the service received at this location. If you investigate, you will find a lot of turnovers in this office. (supporting documents upon request) Sincerely written, Jacqulyn Rush.

My wife and I went to Aspen Dental because it was the closest dental office covered by my insurance. We just walked in to make an appointment. They immediately took her in, examined her and said that she needed her bottom teeth pulled and a crown on the upper tooth. They rushed us into the financing officer who immediately racked up a bill of $3200. Then, on the same day, they pulled her teeth. Within four days, they were fitting her for dentures. The swelling had not gone down yet and my wife was in extreme pain.
They could not get a correct bite. While we were there, the "dentist" said that she had to pull two teeth from the top. These teeth were already pulled on the previous visit. After realizing that the two teeth were gone, they rescheduled an appointment for her to do another bite. We looked over the Credit Care document from Aspen Dental and it states "These arrangements cover your initial treatment cost estimate. Changes in your treatment plan agreed upon between you and your doctor could result in additional costs for which you will be responsible." This place is a scam! Do not go. The "dentists" are unaware of the proceedures that they undertake and they overcharge for thier services.

I went to Aspen Dental since it was the only participating provider in Vestal NY. It reminded me of what a medicaid dental clinic might look like.

First off a young lady made an attempt to take my x-rays - eventually I had to help her get the film pieces in my mouth and position them! I'm sure she had no kind of training certification...seemed to dislike her job.

Then brought to dentist chair, which is in a large room with 2 other dentist chairs divided by a row of cabinets! No privacy - made me feel like I was a number, not a person!

After waiting for a long time, the doctor (who looked to be a first year graduate) sloppily dressed, quickly introduced herself and began to examine my mouth calling off numbers to an "assistant." "Assistant" was a young woman, also sloppily dressed, who kept asking for clarification of what the "dentist" was saying...again, made me feel that the "assistant" had no training whatsoever! The doctor made no attempt to acknowledge me while she was "in my mouth"!

People walking back and forth behind my chair...since it was a large room...listening to other people in dentist chairs...that's when I knew I had had enough and was not EVER going back there!

I was then brought to the "closer"...yes, just like a sleazy car salesman! I stopped him before he went into whatever he was going to discuss, to let him know that I would never be coming back here.

I will definitely go back to my former dentist even if I have to pay large amounts of money for an out-of-network provider! It will be worth every penny!

It was a disgusting place - a great example of corporate dentistry!

I am 53 years old and get my teeth cleaned every six months. After being laid off, I got a new job, and with it came new dental insurance. I had to find a new dentist who took my insurance. Aspen Dental was the closest provider to my home. When I got there I got very anxious as I had to fill out tons of paperwork about payment plans. I had extensive Xrays done, then my exam (without a cleaning first, which to me seemed very odd). Then a woman came in and prodded my teeth with some kind of instrument. I was informed that I needed a type of scraping done, where they numb your mouth and then shoot antibiotics in your gums. Then I was told that my dental insurance would not cover the total cost of the procedure, and that I would have to pay $275 out of pocket. I explained to the office manager that I was only making $15 an hour, and with that I was supporting a disabled husband and a disabled son. There is no way I could afford $275 to get my teeth scraped. Well of course they tried to sell me on the payment plan, but I said No and asked for a regular cleaning. The dentist came out and told me that it was "against his principles" to clean my teeth and that I should find another dentist if I couldn't pay the price. Well I DID find another dentist, and guess what? He told me that I didn't need any such scraping. I had no bleeding of the gums, and there was no reason in the world why I should have to pay for such a thing. He said he would have been surprised if this was the first time someone came to him with this story, but that he has treated about SEVENTY-FIVE patients that told him the exact same thing. The Office Manager felt so sorry for me that she waived the normal $5 fee for sending me my Xrays to give to my new dentist.

Went to Aspen Dental in Tarentum PA to find my smile. That was about 2.5 yrs. ago. I can not tell you how much trouble these people have caused me. They said all the work would cost over $6000.00. Well We started at the top, I was to have all teeth pulled and a immediate denture and to follow their TOP OF THE LINE DENTURES. Well the first time they made these TOP OF THE LINE DENTURES they must of mixed up my mold with GODZILLA these teeth were HUGH so I tried to have them adjust them. A long story short, the dentist Meredith said, "well thats all I can do for you." I gave her the teeth and said give me a refund. As I was walking out, she said "we need the immediates also" HA HA HA She wanted me to walk out of there with no teeth. yea! So they made a second set, again no fit, better but still could not wear them. After paying over $2100.00, I still have no smile. THEY FOUND MY POCKETS AND TOOK MY MONEY! So I decided to work with CARE CREDIT, that went no where. Finally, Aspen Dental decided to give me credit for those TOP OF THE LINE DENTURES! Well that sounds good, we have a price, because when this all started, their office manager Kim said she would have to call corporate to find out what the price was...duh! So, I paid $546 for the immediate and $845 for them TOP OF THE LINE DENTURES. The rest of the over $2100 plus $400 cash was for the pulling of the teeth. GREAT the immediates fit the best of all they tried, but $546, no way they are worth this, they are ready to fall apart. BUT I DID GET MY CREDIT Good, right...NO CARE CREDIT IS TRYING TO SQUEEZE ANOTHER $300 OUT OF ME. I paid them well over $1200.00 and they got their $845 credit so I say we are even. The lady at Care Credit said well you have some late charge and thats why. She's lucky I paid any thing, eat those late fees. SO here I sit, with bad credit and NO SMILE, hmm PLEASE PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO ASPEN YOU WILL NEVER FIND YOUR SMILE! please don't use CARE CREDIT I think Aspen and the CC are up to no good. FIND A NICE SMALL DENTAL PRACTICE you will be glad you did.

I 've had problems with Aspen Dental at Orange CT, and I have the photos to prove it. The first problem was that the dentist did not orientate me on not to put adhesive over the area where there was still an open cavity in my gums. I was complaining that every time I chewed that my gums hurt as if though I had a tooth ache were there was no tooth. I realized that what was going on was that the adhesive was acting like a plunger within the gum cavity where the tooth was extracted from and was pumping air into, and causing pressure to build up within the gum cavity and of course it was causing pain to the nerves with the tissue. I had told the dentist what was going on and he denied that this was the problem and what he did was grind material from the area where this was happening which was the left rear of the denture. The problem became worst after they had put in the soft liner, because now what the dentist did not realized was that he had grind a whole right through the denture surface and the soft liner was now bubbling up through the whole and acting like a permanent plunger, pumping air into soft liner and creating a bubble that was conforming to the whole in my gum cavity. I tolerated it until not much soon after the denture split right in half from front to back. When I took it to get it repaired I also explained to them about the whole in the rear left tooth and the bubble within the soft liner, which was hurting my gums. They repaired the split to my satisfaction. However after I got home I felt the bubble coming up again and hurting my gums. I took photos of everything and use a magnifying glass to find the problem and sure enough there was still a hole within the area where the bubble on the soft liner was formed. I took it back and they repaired it. Well today I woke up and where the the hole was repaired the arch was split in half with the tooth hanging from it. It has not been six months yet since I have had my dentures, where as I am suppose to get a permanent soft liner put in my dentures, once my gums have completely healed.

Someone has placed my contact information on your website WITHOUT my permission or intent. I AM NOT an "expert witness" in any such case nor am I available for any such activity.
Dr. Peter J. Mortelliti

I went to aspen dental and was told that I had pre-peridental disease and if I didn't take care of it I would loose my teeth. I then applied for a credit card through them to have the 1, 505 procedure done, I am not ready to loose my teeth. As I drove home I was discusted that this was so exspensive. I talked with a few people about the cost and they suggested I go for a second opinion which I did. My teeth are fine with no gum issues the costs was 75.00 and next appointment is May 2010. This is absoulutly disusting in the health field that they are stealin from the poor. Beware and always get a second opinion on everything their are no more honest people out their.

Thanks Sue

My husband went to Aspen Dental to get his dentures because when I called and got a price, I was told a set of dentures was $199.00 to $1, 300.00. The $1, 300.00 sounded reasonable because when I priced them last year at Denture Center their price was $1, 500.00. My husband had gotten his last set there. So if your best set was $1, 300.00 then I thought we would try your company. With our insurance our co-pay should have been less than $500.00.

Then my husband comes home and says the teeth cost $2, 763.00. He told them that was too much so they added coupons to get it down. But our share was $916.00. This is $400 or $500 more than it should have been.

When I called to complain I talked to someone that said they would listen to the phone call because they would want to honor what they had told a customer. I don't have who I talked to because I have a new email provider and lost all my emails. I received an email from her that the customer service supervisor had listened to the call and that I was told the price was for each plate, not the set. But I was told it was for a set of dentures. I asked if I could hear the call and she said she did not know if technology would allow that and I never heard back.

I have called back a couple of other times and requested a price for a set of dentures and was told $199.00 to $1, 400.00. One of the times was on July 13, between 2:00 and 3:00. If you call the toll free number [protected] and ask for a price for a set of dentures, you will also be told what I was.

I don't know if my phone call was was really listened to because they said the operator said the price was for each plate. But nothing was said about the price being for each plate, because I never would have scheduled an appointment. I would like someone to listen to the call and also hear if it possible.

I would like to have the $400 or so that I was overcharged put back on my flex spending account. This was money I had alloted for my own dental work and medical expenses for the rest of the year.

I fell like this is a scam to get people into your office. Why would people come there when you chage double what someone else does. If I can't get my refund, the $400.00 you have taken from me is buying you a lot more than that in bad publicity. Everyone I know will hear my horror story of dealing with your company. That's if they already haven't.

I had my lower teeth out in early July in Mattydale, NY 2008 By Aspen Dental by a Dr. Porter. He told me he was quiting Aspen Dental and moving to Aspen Col. the next day after my surgery. I never had any x-ray's done after the procedure and I have had 4 surgeries since then, because of terrible dental procedure to start with! Aspen Dental hired him and I've had nothing but pain and discomfort sine then. They opened a new office in Dewitt, NY which I've been going to. Dr. Skinner has been trying to clean up all my problem's that this Dr. Porter created to begin with! I have alot of serious Medical Condition's and this constant surgery is really causing me pain, discomfort, and I can't take asprin or anything for pain afterward's because od server Liver condition. I've been nice about this but I'm going to find a Laywer to help with this problem! I paid in full over 5, 000.00 14 month's ago and I'm still being worked on for the original problem of just having my botton teeth out! Dr. Skinner and his staff have been wonderful working with me but 14 month's of all this agrivation and with my health condition's your company has put me through hell! I.m tired of having stitches in my mouth, pain, and just making my life miserable! I expect something to ne done about this, and you people hired this Dr. Porter and he should be reported to higher up's cause his skill's are very bad plus he has the personality of dirt! I will be contacting a laywer about thiswhole problem and go from there! I expect to hear from you! [protected]@yahoo.com

My husband lost one of his front four teeth. We had heard about Aspen Dental being new to town and that they were taking new patients. My husband went there and and had his new patient xrays taken and a dental plan set up for fixing his missing tooth. They told him they wanted to do a two part cleaning, bridge work for the missing tooth, fill cavities, pull some teeth. etc. we could not afford all of that and were just concerned with getting the tooth replaced. We spoke to the office manager who told us about care credit. We applied and one of us was approved for a small line of credit. we decided to go ahead with the cleaning and bridgework. We had insurance and were told that the work would be submitted to the insurance, and that whatever the insurance did not cover would be billed to care credit. before we even had the first cleaning appt, we received a bill from care credit for almost the entire amount of our line of credit. The office manager blew us off and said we should make the first pymt while insurance was processing. My husband hsd his two cleaning sessions, and then went back for bridge work. When we arrived for the bridgework, another dentist, whom we had never met before, told us that my husbands teeth could not hold a bridge because they were too loose. He said that he had just looked at the xrays, and if he had seen them earlier, he would not have gone with the bridge procedure. We found out that the insurance had not ever been been billed for the bridgework, but our care credit account HAD! They offered a different prodecure instead, and told us to see the office manager about a credit. The office manager kept insisting that we wait till the insurance paid something. They went ahead and did the new partial mouth piece and said they billed the insurance for it. After waiting two months with no call back and many messages left for the office manager, I called and found out that not only had the insurance claim not been billed correctly for the mouth piece causing the insurance to deny the claim, but the office mamager had mysteriously just not showed up for work one day and all of her files were all over. I demanded that our file be looked at and a credit be issued. I finally had to call the corporate office after I was told that a credit request had been sent with a rush on it to be processed quickly. It had not been rushed...so I rushed it! You see, we had been charged late fees, over the limit fees, and finace charges on a balance that should not have existed on my care credit account. They said they would talk to care credit and get those waived and they did not. When I called the dental office to get a printout of the originally billed charges, the office personnel would not even speak with me..they sent a dental aide to hand me the paper...which did not show the charge billed for the bridgework. That all being said, the partial plate they made my husband broke not even 60 days after he got it, and the pieces were lost. Since we could not provide the pieces, they said they had to make a whole new one and we would have to pay out of pocket for the whole thing. So...the battle rages on..but my attorney will handle it from here! DO NOT TRUST ASPEN DENTAL EVER! THEY ARE FRAUDULENT AND SHOULD BE PROSECUTED!