Aspen Dental

I don't leave reviews much, let alone bad reviews, but I felt this is a worthy reason. I wish I could rate staff individually, as I do believe the hygienist and the receptionist were compassionate, knowledgable and helpful. However, the permanent dentist at the Aberdeen, SD Aspen Dental location as of 1/06/2020 needs to be watched. He not only needs a class in tact, he is a needlessly aggressive (and probably freshly graduated) dentist who quotes more dental work than is needed, boosting the cost dramatically. The prices themselves for the work is over-inflated. While on the chair getting an exam the dentist asked me why my teeth were so bad, to which I responded that I had a couple rough years and hadn't been in to see a dentist. He then thought it was appropriate to ask me if it was "so rough" due to drugs or pregnancy. I am a 35 year old female that is not and was not pregnant or on drugs. There was nothing that could even lend to either being a valid suspicion. When I told him I had Lyme disease and it has been known to cause chronic bacterial infections, he responded with a highly uneducated rebuttal "informing" me that Lyme was rare and curable. The CDC reports 329,000 new cases of Lyme ANNUALLY in America, that makes it the fastest growing vector-borne illness to date, an infection that is proving to be VERY difficult to eradicate if not caught early. This was all happening while he had his hands in my mouth, to where I was unable to respond until he took them out of my mouth. He told me I needed 9 fillings and a crown (and maybe more crowns if he finds I need them during the appointments for fillings). 2 days later I got in with an out-of-network dentist who I knew personally had experience with Lyme, he did x-rays and exam and determined I did not need a crown, nor did I need some of the fillings that were quoted. They were all very minor and further deterioration could be avoided if I get back on a better oral hygiene routine. Instead of $3676 worth of work I was quoted at Aspen, I will at maximum owe $1497, and that is if I pay out of pocket. I have had negative experiences overall at all South Dakota Aspen offices so far. I won't speak for the other location in this thread, but please be aware of all the added fees and inflated prices. My insurance covers 80% of minor dental work if I go to Aspen, but I would rather pay 50% vs 20% out-of-pocket to go to someone out-of-network who I feel is a lot more educated and compassionate than the dentist at this location. Horrible experience, I was very upset about it for a couple days. I hope he educates himself on Lyme, or at best, on manners and customer service. He has none. I can't speak highly enough of the hygienist there, though. She was the only positive thing about the experience aside from the receptionists that were easy to talk to and understanding.

Pros:
1) The receptionist and the office manager were both very friendly and extremely polite.
2) They were able to get me in for an extraction with almost no forewarning. Thank the Gods for a cancellation.
3) The x-ray technician, dental hygienist and dentist were all FANTASTIC and did their best to keep me at ease (I hate dentists).
4) The hygienist and dentist were cracking jokes and being extremely sarcastic during the procedure, and it made what should have been miserable only annoying - they seriously kept my spirits up!
5) At one point, the suction wand wasn't hooked up quite right and the sound drowned out the drill, something most of hate. When I pointed this out, the hygienist kept the wand like that the rest of the procedure - it might have been a little annoying for them, but it seriously helped me.
6) Extremely affordable for an (effectively) emergency appointment.

Cons:
1) The call center. When I called, I was in a lot of pain and they kept me on the phone for 15 minutes answering a bunch of crap that I had to write down on the paperwork when I arrived. Also, when I set the appointment, they said an extraction would be doable. It was only when I got in that I found out it was *actually* an appointment for an exam. If it wasn't for the office staff (like I said above) I would have left in as much pain as I showed up in.

Cold as ICE !! My lady went there for dentures and I have to admit I have never heard more excuses for failure, lies and downright cold treatment. She return her dentures for a refund but now they even want the temporary teeth before they refund her money. So basically they are leaving her toothless because of their own failure. The temporary teeth would of gotten her by until she found a new dentist , now they want them so they can just throw them away. This only proves that Aspen Dental has little regard for dissatisfied patients.

I'm the type of person that puts off going to doctors due to anxiety, but when I started having a bad toothache I decided it was time to schedule an appt. The first visit was free for new patients, so that was a bonus. Everyone there was so friendly and quickly eased any anxiety I had! I appreciate them all so much!

Great experience. Kind and friendly and really did a good job. (Original review)
10 months later
Had wisdom teeth removed. Clinic here sent me down without telling me to fast the morning of, which is a pretty major thing to let a patient know.
Also, was told that insurance would cover all the costs and that they'd checked to make sure. Then got a bill for $270. Pretty frustrating.

I was glad to get my appointment in a short amount of time--I was seen right away and a thorough routine of x-rays and exams from the hygienist and dentist followed. I was given a diagnosis of my oral health and treatment plan along with the costs. I was given an appointment to begin my treatment two days from original visit. ( Not two weeks or months like a regular office. )---So at this point I am satisfied--I will follow up after treatment.

Friendly but unprofessional staff. Several X ray's needed to be redone and then another staff member commented about how bad the x-rays were to the dentist right in front of me. Same staff member was openly flirting with the dentist. Several other things happened that I thought were unprofessional but too many to list. Then at the very end I find out that I cannot have done what I need to have done in their office. I have to go elsewhere. Had I been told that when I scheduled my appointment I could have saved my time and there's and went elsewhere to begin with.

While the staff was kind, it took forever. I arrived half an hour early for my appointment by mistake. I wasn't asked in until ten minutes after my appointment was scheduled for. The lady who took my x-rays was sweet but kept getting interrupted by other staff members. Then I sat in a chair for 50 minutes waiting for the dentist and only saw him after I stood in the hallway and said I was supposed to be picking up my son soon. Then I waited three days for a phone call they told me I'd get that same day. But, sadly I called them three days later. While the staff is friendly, it doesn't make up for their lack of professionalism.

Lost all of its good people. The new dentist brings back all the reasons I've hated going to the dentist. His bed side manner is terrible, he talks around the patient 90% of the time, and half of what he does finally say to the patient is mumbled. It took over 2 hours for a teeth cleaning when it used to take 45, ridiculous. I was a patient for years but I'll never go back

When the lady was taking my x-rays, I was having trouble with my gag reflexes. She gave me the advice to close my eyes and breath through my nose. That and me telling myself "you got this" helped me overcome my gag reflex.

Each of the staff I interacted with were polite and professional. They encouraged me to ask questions and they answered every one.

When I originally made the appointment, the furthest out I had to schedule was only about a week. They were also able to get me in that same night for my second appointment.

In their patient rooms, they even have small tv's a few feet away from you so you have something to keep your mind off the fact that you're at the dentist.

I definitely recommend this dentist office to anyone.