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CB Dental Services Aspen Dental Fraud / customer cheating!
Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental review: Fraud / customer cheating! 16

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Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

For those thinking about this office... read this first. This company is only interested in the bottom line. They are not interested in long term patient care or anything resembling competent or quality customer service.

I went to Aspen Dental to have several issues addressed. I had one crown that was loose and needing replacing. At my first appointment the dentist recommended several thousands of dollars of work (apparently all my crowns were "old"). I had insurance which would cover some of the cost. I decided to do the recommended work. The office repeatedly misfiled the claims leading to much confusion over my portion of the bills. It seemed every time I had a problem I was advised to "call the central office" who in turn told me "call the local office". I did this runaround several times.

After a summer of costly procedures on my crowns (several of the crowns they ordered did not fit, and I had to see them several times to get the correct fit), I was informed that I had developed periodontal disease and I would need treatments costing $1000 (not covered by insurance). In the whole time I was sitting in the dentist chair during all the previous procedures this was never addressed or mentioned to me. I decided this was pressing enough to address, but costly, so I put off putting in a denture. The denture work had been scheduled, but I canceled the appointment explaining that I did not have funds for both the periodontal procedure and the denture. I had been given a temporary denture that did not fit well and cut up my gums. When I canceled the permanent denture procedure the office did not inform me that there was any charge for the temporary denture.

I then got a bill for the entire permanent denture procedure that never happened! I called the office, got the usual "call the central office" runaround, and was in the process of trying to resolve it when I got a collections notice!

Throughout all of this, the front desk staff was rude, dismissive and self-important, the billing office confused and incompetent and the dentistry annoyingly average. The office even bumps calls from "existing patients" to a voicemail, while "new patients" always get immediate attention. Their computers seem to frequently be "down" so they cannot answer questions.

This is still not resolved, but as of now I am being told the bill I got was for the temporary denture. If it is accurate my insurance company and I paid more than $700 for a piece of plastic smaller than a retainer. I just went on online and found 5 similar complaints about the other office in Orange owned by the same dentist. What a disgrace!

16 comments
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Someone who cares 1
, US
Mar 31, 2014 10:56 am EDT

went there and Knew it was a big mistake. I got up out of the chair just before my root canal began and left. They never refunded my money. They told me I needed $7500.00 worth of Dental work. I thank God, I walked out before they raped me.

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protect yourselves
Bristol, US
Feb 11, 2010 3:30 pm EST

Where is the Department of health in all this. File with them and get these jerks licenses pulled!

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JKK34
North Haven, US
Feb 11, 2010 3:18 pm EST

I absolutely AGREE! DO NOT GO THERE! Unprofessional and unorganized doesn't even describe it!

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Ed70
, US
Nov 30, 2009 2:03 pm EST

I have had the same experience with this office in Hamden CT where the hygienist named Giovany told my entire family that we needed some fancy deep cleaning, even my 12 yr old daugher. When I asked if we could have just a regular cleaning, the office manager said, " NO..he would not do it because it would be unethical."
My regular dentist who was on vacation at that time, later told me that it was a just big scam that they tried, because none of us needed this fancy cleaning. Just for the info. each of this cleaning that they suggested was about $1400 vs $65 for the regular cleaning. Big time scam people, I am surprised that thay are still allowed to work. Stilling money from the sick and from the family with low income. Shame, DON'T GO THERE!

Ed

Allie at Aspen Dental
Allie at Aspen Dental
East Syracuse, US
Oct 14, 2009 9:17 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Maksim,

I want to apologize that a member of our patient satisfaction team has not yet reached out to you. I will follow up with them directly and ensure that someone contacts you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience, it is greatly appreciated.

Allie

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MVZ
Branford, US
Oct 06, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

Dear Allie at Aspen Dental,

Thank you for your concern. I have to be frank, your comment was posted 179 days ago, and I have not heard from your patient satisfation team. I know that Aspen Dental Corporate has my current contact information. I would be thrilled to hear from them or you.

Just an update, the one bridge that was redone twice by the Hamden office has now been compromised. I have consulted another dentist who informs me that it must have been cemented improperly. He also informed me that his office has a five-year guarantee on bridges and crowns. I have contacted the Hamden office, who again referred me to Aspen Dental corporate. I have also called the corporate office and am awaiting a phone call from the regional manager.

I would also add that the "major periodontal disease" requiring a $1000 treatment was non-existent one year later when I visited a dentist in Manhattan.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Allie at Aspen Dental
Allie at Aspen Dental
East Syracuse, US
Apr 10, 2009 11:14 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Aspen Dental is committed to providing all patients with exceptional service and care. Maksim, we sincerely apologize if your visit to our office was anything less. We want to do everything we can to address your concerns. I have forwarded your message to a member of our Patient Satisfaction team who will get back to you shortly. Maksim, we are committed to your total satisfaction and we look forward resolving any issues quickly and courteously. Thank you for letting Aspen Dental serve you.

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camille
East Hartford, US
Mar 20, 2009 10:31 am EDT

I had a similar experience in the Farmington location. I was charged $190 without my knowledge, then when I called my insurance I was told that I was charged for work which should have been free. When I called the following day, I was told that I had signed a paperwork for the treatment I received, which I did not. They are a very unethical group and I wrote a complaint to their head office, which was said that it would be answered in two working days and was not. Weirdly enough when I started complaining at my job, the first two co-workers had horror stories of their own about Aspen Dental. because of my lack of research and not researching this dental office, I too fell victim of ASpen Dental.

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Kris
,
Jun 03, 2008 9:20 am EDT

I also had work done there...a couple fillings which have both fell out now (one of which I almost choked to death on!) and the tooth that they "fixed" also changed and became shrap cutting the inside of my mouth. Looking at all these comments I'm not even going to go back and see if they'll fix it!

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Erin
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Apr 24, 2008 5:20 am EDT

What people need to realize, is that when you have dental insurance, the office that takes your plan has a 'deal' with the insurance company. It is called a, 'negotiated discount'.

That is the contract between the provider and the insurance company. Say, Aspen charges $200.00 for a cleaning...the negotiated discount with the insurance company is they will only cover $125.00, THEY CAN NOT BILL YOU FOR THE REST! IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DO SO!

I've caught Aspen trying to bill me for the difference a few times, and always caught them on it.

I now have a 700.00 credit with them, because I over paid, and the rest of my denture work is already paid for...

Do NOT let them tell you otherwise, you can even check with your insurance company, they will tell you the same thing

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lala
,
Apr 07, 2008 8:24 am EDT

horrible place! i wish i had read this before i went! i have an uneven filling now and a torn lip... just an awful place! will never go back!

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VESNA RYBICKI
,
Jan 18, 2008 9:24 pm EST

I whole heartedly agree -- there is obviously some merit to all these complaints! My husband recently had an alarming experienced with Aspen Dental, as well. He was advised that he needed approximately $8,000 worth of dental work -- for an extensive "cleaning", X-rays and several crowns. Thankfully, he declined (after much pressure from Aspen) to sign paperwork/financing to proceed with these procedures, beginning with a "free X-ray"...the more he had thought about it, the more he felt uneasy - that something wasn't right. He spoke to me about the situation and I recommended he visit the dentist that I have been using for the past 20 years. My dentist was (as usual) "very honest" with my husband. My dentist "X-rayed" his teeth and "cleaned" them at his 1st visit; and then scheduled a future visit to fill a couple of cavities...the total charges for both visits will be approximately $400 - $500 ... A FAR CRY FROM THE $8,000 THAT ASPEN DENTAL WANTED! My husband told me that the office staff seemed listless -- there wasn't much activity or patients in the office -- and he overhead one of them talking about needing to get their "quota up" or something to that effect. My husband definitely made the right call in getting out of there ASAP and SAVING MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! It is really sad how deceitful business practices can be on unsuspecting consumers. Where is their conscience and heart? Remember folks, "what goes around, comes around!"

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olddurhamgirl
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Jan 03, 2008 7:46 am EST

I too, was scammed by the AspenDental Hamden, CT office.
I went to get a tooth repaired, and got coerced into a lengthy and expensive process. Two fillings that were of questionable necessity! Two extractions that could have been better done by a veterinarian. A temporary partial plate that is comparable to a tiny retainer, of poor quality and poor fit and poor design. The "teeth" are as small as baby teeth, and do no reach my other teeth to chew properly! Now, I am faced with another extraction of a large bone fragment that is cutting through the gum. The original extraction was so horrid, under local anesthesia, that resulted in cutting and stitching the gum, as well as a badly bruised face and jaw! A true "horse doctor". I'm told I have to wait a total of 6 months before I can get my paid for permanent partial! I chose AspenDental because we are Senior Citizens on a limited income and no longer had any dental coverage. I subscribed to a service online that offered reduced dental prices and Aspen Dental was a participant.

What a huge mistake it was! Now, I'm stuck with going back to this unsavory outfit because I've already paid upfront IN FULL.
Their website lists dozens of dentists, while actually there are only two! The others apparently were "learn while you earn" transients who have since left this group.

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Katrin
,
Jan 02, 2008 10:14 am EST

I agree! This office is a scam. I went to get my teath cleaned and and they gave me a long list of work that needs to be done to my teeth. Now, after i got a lot of work done they will not do certain work unless the other work gets done too. I spent so much money there, had them replace fillings etc. Now they are not going to clean my teath because i didn't get the other work done that was recomended by the dentist. when i told them that i don't have the money to have everything done just yet, but i still would like to get my teath cleaned for now, they said that they can't because it would be "unethical". It's a scam and i should have known better when they gave me this rediculous list of work that supposedly needed to get done. It's all about money!
Don't go to this office!

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Karyn
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Dec 07, 2007 9:32 am EST

I agree--This office is UNORGANIZED and unprofessional!
I have had many many billing problems with them myself, the dentistry is AT BEST average... I do not recommend going here unless your insurance restricts you from going elsewhere!

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SwoopoScam
bath, GB
Oct 31, 2007 1:54 pm EDT

I've hear other very bad things about this office and one of them was definitely trying to get money for services not needed. Too bad.