Aspen Dental

In fall of 2022 I went to aspen dental to get an extraction and implant. I had a $1500 quote from other dentist one hour drive away. Aspen quoted me at $1021.77 after insurance for complete implant a to z. After 9 months the implant was completed and I asked on the way out if I owed anything and they said I was all set everything was prepaid. On 2/16/24 the sent me a bill for $1,822.73 for implant. That's 7 months after I never went back there. (I never went back because they screwed up a minor filling 3 times and had to have another dentist fix.)

Also to the irs, all the work they were charging me for they would give a discount for exact same amount, so if I got $1000 work done they would charge insurance $1000 and give $2000 discount, maybe to scam write offs on taxes.

March 21, 2019

Sandra dahn
1233 raisinville rd
Monroe, mi 48162

Re: my aspen nightmare!

I am writing in regards to the lawsuit against aspen dental I saw on the computer. The problems I have encountered have been horrible.

I have much to say so please bare with me. It all started on april 24th 2018, I went to aspen dental to get 9 teeth pulled. I requested gas for the procedure the assistant informed me they had no gas, I insisted on gas suddenly they had gas available. During the extractions I kept telling the doctor the gas wasn't working. He kept saying we're almost done, I was miserable. Finally I was finished as I was sitting there another nurse ask for the gas tank and my nurse said to her the tanks not working. I had the procedure done with no gas. The dentist put my temporary dentures in and sent me home.

In wearing my dentures I was having a very hard time swallowing, the upper part of my top denture was so far back in my throat and thick it was causing me to gag and having a hard time eating. I went back the next day and ask if they could thin out and cut back the top denture because it was causing me to gag. All they would do was shortened the top would not thin it out, sent me home. The top denture was so thick it made my tongue feel like it was in a vise, couldn't eat so next day went back with my husband to ask them again to thin out and they did. By thursday my upper denture would not stay in kept falling lower and I was in terrible pain. Went back to the dentist about the pain I had. The dentist informed me I had a flap that my front top gum had separated and was over the top of my dentures. The dentist told me go without my dentures for the weekend which I did. I returned on monday they put my dentures back in with my gums the same, the pain was horrible. I was not able to eat anything the pain was still bad so me and my husband went back in to see what they could do to help with pain, there reply was these temporary dentures are not for eating but for looks. We were in awe of this comment, they assured me the permanents will be so much better. So when the dentist assures me it will be better you take there word. My dentures were very uncomfortable so I kept them out most of the time, I would have bone fragments surface that I would have to pick out. When I did wear the dentures I had to wear allot of fixodent to keep them in. Aug 21st I went in for a soft relign and ask when can we start the process for the permanent dentures they informed me oct.

October 28th I went in to start the process of my permanent wax try ins this appointment was to place the molds in my mouth to start the impressions for my dentures. I returned on on oct 31st for my first try in I told the dentist I was not happy how long my teeth were and to set up higher in my gum line. On my return visit nov 2nd my try in the dentist had made my teeth higher in the gum line however I noticed the right side sloped down lower then the left side threw my bite off and the color I was not happy with. The dentist said were to white and would go a shade darker. Returned on my next appointment nov 7th for another follow up appointment I expressed the right side was still lower so they scheduled another try in on nov 13th. I tried the impressions in and thought they looked ok wasn't sure so I ask the dental assistant to take a picture of the dentures so I could take home for my family to see. At this time she gave me a paper to sign to say the were ok that was part of the process and ok to proceed. When I came home and showed my family they saw that my back teeth were lower then my front teeth, in viewing the picture I agreed and at that time called the office within an hour and spoke to casandra to express my concerns, she told me to come back and they would hold off on starting my permanents. My next appointment nov 14th was scheduled at noon, office called and changed my appointment to 2:30 my teeth weren't ready. I called back immediately and spoke with katy and ask if dentures were still in the wax she said yes. I then received a call back from casandra and said she had some unfortunate news that they had proceeded with my permanents and take them home and decide if I didn't like them he would make me a new set at no charge, I did not agree to take them home with me they were not acceptable. Casandra apologized for the mishap and I stated things happen and as long as we have a resolution it's all good. Doctorrichard came in and I showed him what I did not like on how my dentures did not fit, drrichard kept telling me they looked great. My reply to the doctor was i'm sorry but I am not happy with them at all, first I do not like how the back are to low they need to be pushed up higher in the gums like he did the front. I ask the doctor why they hurt so bad, he looked at me never answered me left the room with assistants and no one ever came back. So at this point I am sitting there in tears teeth not fitting, lots of pain still in my temporary dentures. I felt as if I did something wrong, I wa never treated so rudely. I placed the teeth back in the baggy set the teeth on the counter and told the assistant at the counter I will be returning for my appt nov 15th. I told the assistant why I was treated so rudely and left office in tears. The office canceled the 15th appt and rescheduled nov 18th.

The appt for nov 18th they took a molding with a tray and not my temporary dentures, returnednov 20th for 1st wax in on new dentures told them one side was lower and the the upper denture teeth bowed. I advised the dentist not only did I not like the look of the teeth but they felt hugh and were very painful with the fit in my mouth. I had ask the dentist why could you not make my permanents the same as you did my temporary's they replied they could not because two different companies made the temporary's and the permanents. Dr. Told me they would adjust and to come back on nov 21st for another try in, when I came back for the try ins the dentures were the same and nothing had changed. A female doctor came in and asked me to show her what the issues were, so I showed her she took a scalpel looking tool and pushed the eye tooth down said there and left the room, so I tried the denture in again and the tooth fell out when they returned I showed them and their reply was no biggy it's just wax. I had to go in five more times to have them work with my dentures to try to get them right. Several of the times I had to have my husband come with me because they would not listen to me so he had to talk with the doctor, this was the only way I could get anywhere in speaking with the doctor.in one of the appointments with the doctor my husband and I were speaking with the doctor on the problem with the teeth trying to resolve the issue the doctor brought out a book with all kinds of teeth shapes, colors they told us to pick one set out we just looked at the dentist and ask aren't you going to work with us we aren't dentist and isn't that part of what were paying for. We were at a loss but at the dr direction we picked a set out, they made those into my permanents and told me to take home and try them if I don't like they have a money back guarantee. I took them home and wore them around my family and they noticed several different things like not talking right, a very difficult time eating, many sores in my mouth and because of all the issues I had with aspen I just wore my temporary's. Due to the how I was treated at the monroe aspen dental I called corporate to have the regional manager call me to discuss the issues I was having. He offered to make my temporary's into permanents by hard relining and returning 400.00 to 600.00 dollars of my money. I ask them how does that make sense when the quality of the teeth are much poorer then my permanents would be. They agreed and told me there was nothing more could be done.

Aspen stated nothing more could be done so the would refund the money for the permanents and I could pay for the temporary's, having no choice at the time because they were the only teeth that would work I paid for the temporary's. I met with angela the office manager she had me sign papers stating they were returning 1924.00 to care credit. I noted on the paper I was returning my permanent's and I was receiving 1924.00 to care credit, I had angela sign the paperwork stating all was correct on the paperwork. I went in a couple days later for a final soft tissue reline to give me time to time to find a new dentist. At this time I was into the office and told they were not returning me the 1924.00 only going to return 1300.00 I question why and all they would say is the main office called that this was the correct amount and would not tell my anything more. I did not sign anything agreeing to the 1300.00 and told them I had the paperwork agreeing to pay care credit back the 1924.00. The office did the soft relining and left. At this time all I have is my temporary's when attempting to have aspen work with me because I was still having issues and I had only permanents to work with I was then advised to go seek another dentist.

In starting this journey with my teeth I was told by others about aspen and how great they are and I would love their work. I am only 47 years old and deal with fibromyalgia, chronic pain and now with no permanent's teeth. My journey now is going to have to start all over again. I am still amazed by all the issues I have dealt with to just have teeth pulled and dentures made for my mouth. The letter is going to be long and still does not cover every single moment of my dealing with aspen. On march 9th things even got worse, while eating at a restaurant my front tooth in my temporary's broke off of my denture this was on a weekend so I had to go without my teeth for the weekend. Monday march 11th I went to the office to have them fix my broken tooth on my denture they informed me they could not because I was released from there practice. I question what she was referring to I was never told that, she said she was going to get the regional manager who was the same manager I had been speaking with over the phone and text about the problems. I ask him about them saying I was released and what does that mean he stated I signed paperwork releasing me as a patient. I had never signed a paper stating I was releasing myself as a patient. The only paper I signed was leaving my these are my only teeth. The doctor stated the temporary's are only good for six months, he asked if I wanted them glued at a charge, I ask is that all they could do at that time my husband saw me very upset ask me what was going on I told him what the manager said about being release as a patient.

At that time my husband stated to them we paid for the temporary's and we were told they were under warranty. My husband become upset and told them to fix her teeth. The manager told us to leave or they were going to call the police. So we left I went to hobby lobby and purchase some glue to glue my tooth back in. So where I am now is having a temporary's denture with a glued front tooth and searching for a new dentist. I started out paying them 4501.00 they have only returned 1300.00. I have every piece of paperwork, pictures and recordings of all that I have noted in this letter. Added note since I started this letter I have received in the mail on march 25th a letter from aspen stating they have released me as a patient from all aspen facility's the letter was dated march 12th the day after my last appointment of march 11th. So what aspen stated they had on file they did not and this letter was to cover what they had stated on march 11th. I am available to answer any other questions you may have. I am hoping this will be of help in any possibility of a lawsuit against aspen.

Sincerely,

Sandi dahn
[protected]