Aspen Dental review: unethical business practices

This was the worse experience in my life of going to a dentist. We had called in to get a quote on a broken tooth and getting an implant to replace it. We were told $1500.00, so we made an appointment. Aspen Dental said they would just go straight to the oral surgeon. (Didn't bother telling me that there would be an additional $127.00 fee, otherwise I wouldn't of have taken the appointment. The office area was in such disarray that no one knew what was going on. We'll take an x-ray, no we won't, let's take you back. I was taken back and had a seat, asked a couple questions about my health and that they could pull my tooth today. Not sure who the man was that was looking at my tooth as he didn't even introduce him or shake my hand. He was in scrubs just like the rest of the dental assistants. Less than 4 minutes, I was taken back up from to the billing desk and told the implant would cost $6000.00. Wow a huge difference from $1500.00. Looking over the tooth extraction it appeared my portion of it was $33.00. I said I would go with the tooth extraction, and then the billing clerk said oh, my portion would also include $210.00 for numbing? And insurance doesn't cover that? What? I asked the price of the tooth extraction doesn't cover numbing? She said "NO". I said then I will pass on that and check with another Dentist. She then said, I still owe for a consultation of $127.00? I asked what consultation? Well you met with Dr. ? I said I didn't meet anyone and no one introduced themselves as such? I said I was back in that room less than 4 minutes to see if I was going to have my tooth extracted, which could be done by a regular dentist. So Aspen scheduled me with an Oral Surgeon and then asked I had a referral note for him? I said Aspen dental scheduled it knowing that a broken tooth needs to be extracted first and then 3 to 4 months later the implant process would begin. Why wasn't the billing expense done first? Aspen Dental failed in the basic process of "Consulting" with the patient first, especially when springing a $6000.00 procedure on them. I would never go back to this poorly ran business. Aspen Dental admitted that they shouldn't of quoted a price over the phone and that it took them awhile to get through the billing to come up with the $6000.00. I told them I wouldn't even have scheduled an appointment if they would have told me upfront that the price went from $1500.00 to $6K. She said I would still have to pay the consultation fee? I said bill me. She said no, it has to be paid now? After knowing the mistakes the office staff have made, still trying to get me to pay? Unreal. She then went on that they would send me a bill and if I didn't pay it that it would go to collections, so now I am being threatened. A great way to run an office. I said I would send them a bill for my time and misrepresentation they put me through.

I went to the waiting room where low and behold, within 15 mins I heard another couple questioning their experience and imagine that over billing discrepancies and charges. Beware and go straight to the billing clerk first to find out what your real charges are going to be and don't be surprised when they are tripled of what your expecting.

Right out in their lobby they have a sign and brochure stating, " Peace of mind PROMISE", "No Surprises", "we will provide a clear, detailed estimate on the cost of your treatment plan in writing so you know what to expect" This office failed miserably in its basic code of ethics, that it proudly displays in its lobby. Check out their website, basic tooth extraction starts at $124.00 ?

If they do send me a bill, I will go to small claims court and have a Magistrate decide if I owe them $127.00 for a consultation to tell me I would now owe $6000.00 for an implant and $243.00 dollars to extract a broken tooth. (it would be $33.00 if I choose not to have it numb first) Really what Dentist would put a patient through that?