Aspen Dental

The people at Aspen Dental are friendly and easy to deal with. The part of the dentist that I don't like is that I always have lots of fillings due to dry mouth because of medications that I take. And I don't like paying for it, but that's not the fault of Aspen Dental. They work with my insurance and I get a discount on my costs because of my insurance. They explain every thing to me and I'm pleased with the people and service there.
However, I'm now concerned that it takes THREE MONTHS to get in to get my fillings done. I'm not at all pleased this visit. They were supposed to update my insurance to see what it would cover and call me back. They never called me. I called them 8 days later. My insurance will cover the fillings this time, but the first available appointment for fillings is 3 months down the road. I feel that's too long to wait to get fillings done.
8/29/2020- update to previous review... I was right to be concerned about the 3 month wait for fillings. I ended up with a root canal!
I believe they have the issue with staffing that caused the delay resolved. We'll see.

Aspen dental in Johnson city has the best staff I've ever encountered . They are happy about there work they are on top of everything from start to finish . The dentist well she was pretty awesome . She sings she jokes in terrified of the dentist but not after meeting with her . The rest of the staff is truly amazing I'm so thankful I have found them . If you're thinking about coming to Aspen I'm telling you right now do it! Do it ! Thanks for everything today guys .

My Experience:
Horrible Care, messed up my mouth, cost me far far more than I saved. I went to Aspen because they offer the $19 initial checkup and x-rays. They said I had 5 cavities (I've never had that many cavities at one time so I should have seen the red flags there).
I got them filled. They did all 5 fillings at once. I had horrible pain in the left side of my mouth, throbbing, running back to the ear. I waited it out for several days, but it got worse. I returned, I suggested it might be an infection, but they adjusted my bite instead. I waited another 3 days. Pain got even worse. I had to take a significant amount of over the counter pain medication just to function during the day. I went back a final time and the woman took two more x-rays, she couldn't understand why it was hurting so bad. Again, I suggested it might be an infection. She filed down the space between my fillings instead. Said that should take care of it. I drove home and could hardly focus on the road my mouth was in so much pain. After suggesting 3 times to the dentist that it feels like an infection, but getting denied, they are finally writing me a prescription today for antibiotics.....three weeks later.

I called another dentist today. He said he would see me for free. He also said he has had other patients go to the same aspen office who were told they needed 10 fillings. He looked at their teeth and they didn't need 5. He also said he's never heard of a dentist filling 5 teeth at one time. It's too much stress on the mouth, teeth, and nerves of the patient.

Note: My wife also went to this dentist. She is 29, has never had a cavity in her life. And this dentist said she had one (Another red flag).

Experience:
When you go in, you will wait an extra 30 minutes before they take you back. You will feel like you're in an assembly line. The dentist looks at your teeth very quickly, rushes from patient to patient. She is in a rush to do everything. She does not show care in her work. I have been to a LOT of dentists. Oh, and you will wait....and wait....and wait.

Friendliness:
I will say I didn't have a problem with the friendliness of the staff. They were all very nice to me. Their hygienist is excellent and personable and she had a ton of useful advice.
The dentist was apologetic about the pain, but she works too fast and she's focused on too many things to truly care for her patients.

I am being as honest as I possibly can with this review. DO NOT GO HERE! I regret it!

If I was you I would run as fast as I could run the biggest rip off they don't use real dentist they use people that have no earthly idea what they're doing it has been the worst experience in my entire life I really wish I would have went and got a second opinion because these people have no idea what they're doing absolutely a joke so take advice from somebody that spent a lot of money with Aspen dental run as fast as you can and find a real dentist believe me the extra money will be worth it you won't have people that's been out of school 2 weeks trying to do a procedure that leaves you in horrible pain for weeks and they do nothing the whole office in Johnson City is a joke take my advice and run

Staff was nice, but quality of dental work is mediocre at best. I had no pain in a tooth, but I was told I had a cracked tooth and needed a crown...two other dentists and an endodontist said it was fine. Billing department is terrible: polite, but I've been fighting over a year to get money back that they should never have charged me.

Short version? Go elsewhere if you can.

This team at Aspen Dental was great! They went over everything with me and gave me details along the way explaining what we needed to do in order to achieve my goals to restore my smile. They were able to assist me with fiancing to cover what my insurance did not - very quickly and easily!!! They did not force me into their plans, but rather gave me options and asked how we should start. I recommend Aspen dental - they can do almost any dental procedure in house!

I find that this office is so married to protocol that I left there feeling like they didn't listen to me at all and my problem was not solved. I came in because I'd lost a filling. It was in an easily accessible location on a front tooth. They insisted I needed an appointment to assess it before filling the hole left behind. They also insisted taking an xray even though I told them it was easily viewable. So $91 later the dentist came in glanced at the tooth and said I needed a filling. All of 3 minutes. Maybe. I don't know if she even looked at the xray. I told them I needed a filling. The "pre" filling visit felt entirely like a money making move AND they didn't listen to my words at all. I told them I needed a filling and it was a clean hole that should be easy to fill. Also they had told me the visit would be $19 but then charged me $91 to do absolutely nothing once I got there.

I was seen to evaluate a dental abscess. I had already been prescribed antibiotics so it was only for future services. It turns out they wouldn't touch me without being cleared by my oncologist first, but they were happy to touch my wallet! Once they discovered that I had dental insurance they began comprehensive X-rays, Panorama, Bite Wings, and Repeat Bite Wings to visual the root tips too. These were all "covered services" according to them. Remember that the swelling from the abscess made it impossible to know what things may have looked like when the swelling went down.

Well, the X-rays were not covered, and now I am stuck with a bill for x-rays. Additionally, I elected to see another dental practice for treatment , since it was clear that this practice wanted money only, whether from me or the insurance. I requested a copy of the multitudinous X-rays that were performed. This was well over 4 weeks ago now, and still they have NOT responded to this request. When I did keep the appointment with the NEW practice, they told me that ASPEN has a horrible reputation with other dental offices for not responding to patient requests. I hoped that it might be different since I knew the OFFICE MANAGER at this location, but that made zero difference. Thankfully the new practice performed a panorama view AT NO CHARGE, and began a totally different treatment plan than the one proposed at ASPEN---one in which I will probably get to keep my natural teeth longer, and eat better for awhile longer.

You might be able to get adequate care here, but don't expect them to go out of their way to take care of you unless you are handing them money! (Their treatment plan was $13,000 and that did not include the Endodontist I would have to see. The new dental practice is able to provide service, including 2 bridges and at least 1 crown, for about $2,500).

I went into the Johnson City office with a chipped front tooth and needed it fixed asap. The Dr. I believe pham was awesome and so sweet and funny. I really connected with the assistant Jenny from California. This was my first time in a dentist in 10+ years so the staff Dr and front desk was wonderful. The lady that numbed me in 3 different places was fantastic she walked me through every step. I did not even fill one bit of pain. Did I mention Dr. Pham took the time to stay after just to make sure I was taken care of. She even was nice enough to round all my teeth even. I will be back.

I really enjoy my visits to Aspen. While they are a large company, my hygienist makes it feel like a comfortable visit to a friend. They have all the latest technology and lots of friendly and qualified folks.