Aspen Dental Couldn't find dental implants, wrong diagnosis, improper charges/push for services, AND long waits (even if in pain) Portland Maine

When I first called these people up, they put me on hold, and while there the annoucement came on that they could see patients right away for emergency purposes. I told them I had daily and oftentimes severe pain in my tooth for about a year, but they said they couldn't see me for 4 weeks. Coincidentally, when I got there, there was another man who was ahead of me that complained about pain, too -- and they told him to come back in 3 weeks!

Anyway, after I got there I saw their poster advertising a FREE evaluation. However, when it came time to leave, I had to pay my $15 co-pay and my insurance company was charged with the balance (which I think was about $185). I asked about the free evaluation and was just brushed off by saying I didn't qualify for this so I had to pay. But there were no restrictions listed on the poster!

When it came to the examination itself, I first had to wait 40 minutes in the chair before the dentist came in, After he arrived, he asked if I had any dental work before. I told him I had 2 dental implants and described where they were.

Well, the guy couldn't find my implants at first on the x-rays and started arguing with me as to whether I actually had them. He even asked again where my implants were, and I started wondering that maybe he wasn't even referring to my mouth! Finally, after about 15 minutes, he saw them on the x-rays!

The dentist then proceeded to tell me not only I would have to have my painful tooth extracted and gingervitis surgery done (which a later -- NON-Aspen Dental -- dentist confirmed) but that I also had another tooth on the other side of my mouth that needed either a root canal or removal. I was shocked as that second tooth wasn't even giving me any pain! To make a long story short, the later dentist said all I needed was a cavity filled in that tooth: no extraction or root canal was needed!

The final insult was when I noticed how irresponsible Aspen was towards trying to sign me up for what was now big-dollar dental work. I had been told while there I would have to get a doctor's approval for the gingervitis surgery, tooth extraction, and root canal since I have diabetes and was not under a physician's care at that time. I told them I would have to get a doctor first. But office manager disregarded what I said and pushed HARD to get me to sign the work agreement that day without my having a doctor onboard.

I refused to sign and got up and left: I will NEVER go back! Since that time, I have found a good dentist and doctor and am getting the work done properly. After reading my story, I hope this will convince others not to patronize Aspen Dental. They DO seem more concerned with the money than the proper care of their patients.

Blackpen
Westbrook, Maine
U.S.A.