Business ProfileforAspen Dental

My dentist retired suddenly. I went to another dentist, but they were not in
my dental insurance network. They said I only needed 2 fillings and a crown
replaced.
They were not in my network, so I then went to
Aspen Dental thinking I only needed 2 fillings and a crown. Even though the
prior Dentist had sent them recent (6/24/2021)x-rays, they insisted on
x-raying again. I was then told I needed extensive work, which totaled
$10,703 after deducting $800 for insurance. I was given the total estimate,
which was all codes, procedures, and prices.
I was told I needed a deep cleaning because I had the start of periodontal
disease.
I was definitely in shock. They told me I could sign up for a Care Credit
account, which I was told was a credit card with no interest for 18 months. I
thought there was no harm in applying. I could then decide if I needed all that
work.
I was afraid of periodontal disease. I thought I had $800 of insurance left and
that the deep cleaning wasn't that expensive, so I did it the same day. I wasn't
told the price of the deep cleaning.
That night, I deciphered the codes, researched dental fraud procedures, Aspen
Dental and realized the mistake I had made.
I called my dental insurance (Ameritas) and found out I had no insurance
benefit for the year. I thought that I had a root canal and crown in December
of 2020. This was done in January of 20201.
I called Aspen Dental on 8/3/2021. I found out that my bill for deep cleaning
was $1,380. I told them I was upset that they told me I had $800 insurance
left. I told them to cancel my care credit. I told them to cancel my
appointments until we resolved the present bill. I told them I would pay $580
($1,380 -800). They were confused as to why the insurance estimate was so
far off. They would call me back.
I closed my Care Credit account on 8/4/2021.
Aspen Dental called me back on 8/5/2021. I was told they would give me 1
free crown to make up for their error. I told them I would prefer that they take
the deep cleaning ($1,380) off the bill and I would pay for the initial visit
instead. They never got back to me on this offer.
I received a bill from Care Credit on 8/19/2021. I called Aspen Dental, since
they hadn't canceled my account. I said they would cancel it, but couldn't
reverse the $ 1,380 that they had already charged.
Aspen Dental had charged $1,3800 to my account on 8/3/2021. This was the
first time I realized that Aspen Dental had access to my account.
I called Care Credit on 8/20/2021. They reversed the charges and canceled
my account. Aspen Dental had never done it.
I received a bill from Aspen Dental on 9/27/2021. It was dated 9/16/2021. I
was out of town from 9/19/2021 to 9/27/2021. The bill was due 9/29/2021.
I called Aspen Dental on 9/28/2021 twice and left messages with the
receptionist both times They never returned my calls. I called on 9/29/2021.
I was told that they could not adjust the bill after the statement had been
issued. I was told that there would be no interest on the bill unless it stated so
on the bill.
I had previously asked for all my records, including x-rays and notes. I
picked them up at the office. However, the x-rays appeared incomplete, there
were no notes, and the rest were just codes and procedures. I asked for them
again and told them I would pick them up at the office the afternoon of
8/30/2021. I haven't gone there yet.
On 8/30/2021, I went to the office to pick up the documents I had requested.
******* had the documents at the front desk. She thumbed through the pages
and said that she needed to print the x-rays. During this time, **** walked
behind the desk several times without acknowledging my presence. I took
the folder to my car and checked the folder before leaving. Of pages 1-28,
2-28 were blank. I went back in and she said she would print them.
During this time, **** walked behind the desk and said “hi ******” as she
went around the corner and out of sight. Another worker went behind the
desk, then went to the corner where **** had gone. I heard **** talking
and heard my name.When the worker turned back around, she had a
wide-eyed expression o n her face. **** went back to her desk. *******
went to the printer, which was by ****’s desk. I agin heard **** mention
my name. ******* was listening and nodding her head up and down (yes).
From 6/24/2021 to 9/29/2021, I had called Aspen Dental a total of 26 times.
They have called me 8 times.
I had talked to **** on my first visit, so most of my communication was
through her. On 8/9/2021, I went to the office and asked for ****. I was
told she would be with me in about 10 minutes. I waited over an hour. ****
ws at the front desk several times, but never said a word to me. I left after an
hour.
In the beginning, my notes are not as complete as they are later on. When I
realized that they were being evasive, my notes became more detailed.
The x-rays from 6/24/2021 were sent to Aspen Dental on 7/22/2021, why did
they insist on x-rays.
I had gone to my longtime dentist (Dr. ***** *****) for years, the last visit
was February, 2021.
Prior to seeing Aspen Dental, I saw another dentist (********* ****** in
Morton, Illinois for an initial visit and cleaning on 6/24/2021. Both said my
gums were fine. I returned to ********* ****** on 8/11/2021. I received 2
fillings and a crown. I needed no further work.
I feel that Aspen Dental over-diagnosed and took advantage of my initial
shock over the diagnosis.
I was not told the cost of the deep cleaning. I was given 3 pages of codes,
procedure names and prices.
They didn't canceled my Care Credit as requested, I did.
They were willing to give me a free crown, my counter-offer of paying $580
seemed fair. Why can't we negotiate further? Why is this their only offer?
I suppose I did receive some benefit from my visit, it made me decide to go
back to ********* ******.
After researching, I'm not even sure they did a deep cleaning, but maybe a
took shortcuts. There is no way to prove this.
I did go there, they did take time and staff, so in only fairness, I am not
expecting to not pay anything. That is why I countered with $580. The
initial consultation and x-rays were free. So, if the $1,380 for the deep
cleaning were removed, I should paid something. I even told them I would
paid for first visit if they take the deep cleaning charge off.
Aspen Dental became evasive after I called on 8/3/2021. They were willing
to give me a free crown, so they admitted errors on their part. I told them we
needed to settle the initial issues before I come back in.
So, in conclusion, I want to pay $580 or less