Aspen Dental review: Consumer fraud and physical injury

I recently moved to The Bloomington, Illinois area to retire. I made a dental cleaning appointment at your Aspen Dental ADMI franchise store located at 1401 N Veterans Parkway. I arrived on-time and with all my paperwork filled out.

My teeth are in very good shape because I have regular cleanings every six months. I am also a senior citizen on a fixed income.

I was told by Aspen Dental in Bloomington, Illinois that they had to take X-Rays. However, I did not want any X-Rays, just a cleaning, but they insisted they needed X-Rays (which they charged to Delta Dental). Their technician was poorly trained and caused me a lot of pain while placing the X-Ray plates in my mouth. She cut my lip and cut the inside of my left cheek. I took photos of these. I would go as far to say she was purposely hurting me.

Eventually, I was taken into a room with the office manager who told me I had Periodontal Disease and needed multiple treatments and a deep cleaning on that day which did NOT include a regular cleaning. They also said I had to pay $1, 193.20 immediately, because my Delta Dental insurance would not cover this amount. They also tried to sell me an electric toothbrush that I did not need because I already had one and told them this too, but they still tried to sell it to me. Very hard sell tactics.

I was physically and mentally abused by Aspen Dental employees and will testify to this fact.

I have since had an appointment with a different dentist in Bloomington, and also consulted my long-term family dentist in Kentucky and confirmed that the bone loss and condition of my teeth are normal for my age and that I do not have periodontal disease.

I have since researched thousands of complaints against Aspen Dental and most of them were identical to how I was treated at their franchise store in Bloomington, Illinois.

Aspen Dental is owned by the private equity firms: Leonard Green, Ares Capital, and American Securities. I am also aware of class action lawsuits against these private equity companies due to mistreatment of elderly patients like myself by Aspen Dental.

There is also a PBS Article titled: "Patients, Pressure and Profits at Aspen Dental." (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/patients-pressure-and-profits-at-aspen-dental/)

This article is identical to what happened to me, so I have consulted an attorney. My family attorney told me that I needed to send a demand letter first, before taking any further legal action, so I have mailed that letter today.

Heather, the office manager at Aspen Dental in Bloomington, IL responded to my complaints exactly the way ADMI trained her. (These tactics are public knowledge as presented in the PBS article).

I am retired, so am actively working towards a new Class Action law suit, because of the snide, snarky, arrogant, and disrespectful comments made to me by the office staff at the Bloomington, IL Aspen Dental Store.