Today I had a cleaning at Aspen- Merle Hay. Being that it's the end of the month and the end of the year I could definitely appreciate Jessica and James squeezing me in for a cleaning at the end of the day on a Friday! Not to mention James stayed late. Whenever I get my teeth cleaned I walk out confident that it was done right. I didn't get to see the rest of the staff but I will be scheduling a couple fillings in the near future. These guys are great! Go see them! PS read more

Scheduled an 8AM appt, showed up at 7:45AM, doors were locked... They said there's no way we had an 8AM appt, showed them the text with the time and date clearly showing and they said "You can try calling us later when the dentist gets here." So calling them doesn't get you an appointment, you literally have to show up at their offices to schedule one not that a dentist will actually see you. If you can't even handle scheduling an appointment, I don't think I want to trust my health care to you. Horrible experience read more

Tried charging me almost $3,000 out of pocket with metlife insurance for basic root canal and cap, then told me I would have to pay insurance side and my side upfront, then wait for insurance to refund me. They are a scam. The guy was like a sales man trying to convince me to pay $5,000 to get somthing done I've paid less than 1,000 for somewhere else. Read Google reviews, lots of very unhappy people read more

Money Hungry...bad service. No full exam. No general cleaning and wanted $4000 for deep which I don't need

This place is terrible. They canceled my appointment without notifying me in advance. I had an appointment scheduled for Monday, and when I showed up, they told me it had been canceled without any prior notice. When I asked why, they said it was because they called me for information, but I didn't answer. However, I called them back, and no one picked up. They didn't leave me a message or send an email to confirm the cancellation. I've never had such a bad experience with this type of service. Never do business with them. read more

I wish that I had looked at reviews of this place more closely. Two years ago, I sent my college student son to Aspen dental in Des Moines to get three fillings done. He was a college student there and I tried to find a place near where he was. It was extremely expensive, I'm thinking close to $2000. It was more than they charge us in Colorado. They tried to upsell him on everything. But we needed to get those cavities fixed so we did. However, this week, when he went to get his teeth cleaned at our local dentist in Colorado, she discovered that those three fillings have all failed, With cavities underneath the fillings and apparently a terrible job was done with those fillings. I just had to pay to have our local Dentist take care of those, drill them out and redo them all. I am disgusted. Don't go to Aspen Dental! read more

They canceled my appointment which was fine, but I tried asking what I should do in the mean time. The lady was very rude. As I was in so much pain I was asking for guidance. Told me they didn't know what to tell me. And don't know when I could re-schedule which is very frustrating I work during there business hours I will no longer be doing business with them! read more

very unprofessional, and they doesn't even know how to talk to patients and even charge a lots

Scam. No working phone numbers. Tries to upsell on work that's not needed. I would never recommend these hacks to anybody with even a single tooth. They wouldn't fix that either. Fast food of dental work, and i use the dental word loosely. read more

Aspen Dental on SE 14th in Des Moines, never answers or returns calls. This is not the first time!! This time my son left 3 messages over 3 weeks, no call back. I left messages, no call back. read more

I needed to have several teeth extracted and a partial denture. Dr. Fatah was wonderful and I hardly felt the extractions. My denture fits great. The staff is great. read more

Aspen Dental - Des Moines, IA - Merle Hay - Here's a photo with me and my new teeth with my Aunt Joanne - Oral Surgeons Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I had all four wisdom teeth removed a little over a month ago. I had opted out of sedation so Dr Fatah completed the surgery while I was awake but numb in the mouth. I had a huge amount of anxiety and during the first four (of 6) shots administered to the mouth to numb before surgery, I had a panic attack. My blood pressure was high, my skin was pale, and I couldn't breathe. He sat me up and brought me a cold towel to put on my face. After 15 minutes, he gave me the other two shots. He went to work on my mouth and removed the top two teeth almost immediately! When he got to the bottom right, the one that had caused me significant pain in the first place, I felt the panic set in again. I could hear all the noises and feel the intense pressure in my mouth, as well as see all the blood coming out of my mouth. I told him I was going to throw up and he sat me up, once again brought me a cold towel, and we chatted for awhile to bring the anxiety down. He encouraged me to wait to get the last two removed under sedation because of all the anxiety. I thought that was brave of him, because then I knew he cared about me as a person and not just a money maker. While I was panicking, he brought in one of the staff, Katie, who talked to me about all her favorite TV shows and who literally sat and held my hand the rest of the time. I decided to try again and he got the last two removed, with Katie by my side and him giving me encouragement the whole time. I got all four removed that day and though it was rough, the staff never gave up on me and they were very patient and understanding. Even though I know for a fact that Dr Fatah was busy that day, he made sure I felt heard and sat with me through both panic attacks. I love this Aspen Dental. I came into today for a checkup and they all knew my name and face, even some staff I didn't recognize! Very thankful for the staff on board. read more

Went for emergency tooth extraction, couldn't do it for two days and when I went to fill pain prescription the Dr.'s DEA number was no good! She wrote me a bogus prescription! Couldn't be filled. When I called back to complain they stated they've known for the last week but the problem should be cleared up soon. Huh? Bad operation from top to bottom, if you value your teeth steer clear. read more

Isn't it odd that a 5-star review of this place is written by someone based in Colorado who has written exactly one review?? I went to Aspen for a general cleaning and to check out a filling which had popped out. The appointment started on-time and the X-rays were done quickly and with very little discomfort, albeit you are seated very much out in the open where anyone walking by can see you. I waited about 20 minutes before being seen by a dentist who talked things over with me and examined the cavity for about three minutes. He told me a hygienist would be in soon. About 15 minutes later, the hygienist came in and, after poking around for a few mintues, told me my gums were in really bad shape and would require a several-step treatment program. He then left and the dentist asked me to go sit with the office manager to discuss my options. I asked about the cleaning and was told there were no times available the rest of the day. When I sat with the office manager and reviewed the proposed $780 treatment plan, she said Aspen would not give me a general cleaning because it wasn't in my, "best interests to do so." I asked again to please simply get a cleaning and the cavity filled; I was told that I would be back again in 6 months with the same problems and that they wouldn't be, "serving my best interests" to do a cleaning. I thanked her for her time and left. I have never experienced any problems with my gums and was quite surprised by what I heard. I felt like I had gone to get an oil change and came out with a bill for an engine overhaul. The experience overall made me feel like they were trying to take advantage of me by offering services I had not requested; it very much felt like the old-fashioned, 'bait-and-switch' mentality. I talked to a co-worker who had a very similar experience. I will not be returning to Aspen and will not be recommending Aspen to anyone based on my experiences. read more

This place straight-up sucks. Nobody greets or checks you in when you arrive, even though there were four or five people behind the desk when I got there and it wasn't busy. The woman who did my x-rays was nice but that was the only positive. When I saw the dentist I told him my doctor thought my face and jaw pain was a nerve disorder but I was there to rule out anything obviously dental and without looking at me or my x-rays said "oh it's definitely dental." He looked in my mouth for not even 10 seconds before telling me I had an infection (even though I just finished 10 days of amoxicillin) and priced out a $3500 root canal. The hygienist was apparently "too busy" to see me so they shuffled me off to their financial desk which felt like a used car dealership. He tried to get me to throw down $1750 to schedule a whole mess of procedures which hadn't been remotely explained to me, as I saw the dentist for maybe 3 minutes total and had no indication that I had an infection and needed to lose one of my biggest molars. Now they email me every single day asking for feedback and trying to get me to make another appointment. Save your money and your dignity and go somewhere that isn't just trying to rip your teeth out for as much profit as they can slice out of you. read more

Absolutely the worst dental experience I've ever had. Came in for their Veterans Day of free dental care and was charged to have teeth pulled, the procedure was so bad I had to have oral surgery to fix the mess they made. Corporate office said they would put me in a denture for my trouble but after a year of fittings and still not having a denture that fits in my mouth they dismissed me as a patient and said they will not honor their promise. Run from this place and dr fatah, absolutely the worst!!!! read more

Bad experience. I received services in September 2016. Bedside manner wasn't great, so I decided I probably wouldn't return. I had 2 cavities filled. In January 2017, one of the fillings started separating causing incredible pain. I went to a different dentist who fixed it. Today, March 4th, I was flossing and out popped the other filling - leaving a gap between my teeth!! Poor quality products, poor service. read more

I love this dental office, everyone, from the receptionist to the Dr, are very good at their job, happy to see you, super professional I had 6 teeth pulled in one day without any pain afterwards, I was amazed, I was expecting sooo much pain, but no! I highly recommend the office on Merle Hay read more

My current dentist was no longer a preferred provider. Aspen Dental is, so I decided to try this one out. The front desk staff are nice. The atmosphere is okay in the waiting area, the treatment room was sparse, the equipment was very bare-bones and basic. I am used to a dental office with much more technologically advanced equipment. There was a TV monitor with bad reception playing some G-rated movie with no sound affixed to the front of the chair. I never got TV's at the dentist. You are flat on your back, you can't watch it anyway. The lady giving me the x-rays made me feel like I was getting a mug shot. "Sit here. Turn right. Turn left. Chin up. Chin down." I knew I had a large cavity and needed two crowns. I needed a crown on a front tooth. Dr. Fatah tried to get me to buy three more crowns- for all my front teeth, because HE likes to have symmetry. I told him my dental insurance doesn't pay for unnecessary cosmetic dentistry, but he said it wouldn't blend very well if he only did one tooth, and besides, HE prefers to do unnecessary expensive dental work. I kept telling him I wasn't getting extra crowns, he talked about doing one and then getting the other 3 later. I said that a crown would probably look better than my tooth, which is discolored. He said "oh, no... it will blend in really well." Uhm... okay. Will it not blend in, or will it blend in really well? While I was sitting and waiting, I heard Dr. Fatah in the next room chiding someone who had tooth pain. He said her tooth was "hopeless," and that if she had been coming regularly, then it would have been caught, but since she didn't, now it would need to be extracted. It says on the Aspen Dental website that the staff is "non-judgmental." Well, that's not what I heard in the other room. I got the quote, and I will say that the price quoted was significantly less money than my current dentist gave me. My tooth was recommended to be extracted, my current dentist wanted to see if it could be saved, but I can see Dr. Fatah wanting to extract it. The cavity IS very large. Filling it would cost more than extraction, so I am on board with that. I cannot recommend this place. The doctor is abrasive, and sure, save me some money with an extraction, but based on the price of my other two crowns, try and pressure me into over $2,500 worth of cosmetic dentistry that is completely unnecessary. When I got the quote, I was asked if I was "waiting to do the other crowns." Are you kidding me? Giving me the hard sell on those crowns, aren't ya??? They say they will give you a copy of the x-rays for free so you can get a second opinion on their website. I went and got mine. It was awkward, I have to say, but I don't want to get a whole new set done again when I go to my new dentist. When I went and got them, I was reminded of the only redeeming thing about this place- the office staff. They're just a great example of anyone you hope to run into in a customer service situation. But the dentist is polar opposite of that. I didn't know what to expect from a chain store dentist. I had kind of hoped that they had some higher corporate standards, but it seems like get 'em in, upsell 'em, get 'em out, on to the next one. I have looked at the reviews for other Aspen Dental practices in the state and am convinced that going to a different one will not be the answer. If what you are looking for is dirt cheap dental work, then this is the place for you.That is the only thing i would recommend this place for. Update- 1-8-15: Aspen Dental contacted me about my concerns after seeing this review (she referenced that experience you posted publicly), and wanted to make things right. They have told me Dr. Fatah has won awards for being a top dentist in the area [citation needed] and told me different dentists have different treatment plans. I am not interested in returning at all. I don't know what "make things right" meant and I did not ask. I have gone to a new dentist, and yes, he has mapped out a COMPLETELY different treatment plan. My problem with Aspen is the doctor's attitude and their lack of current dental technology (as in, my new dentist uses laser drills that most often require no Novocain), that would most likely make the cost of dental treatment there higher and on their website, they very prominently advertise how low-cost their crowns are, so I believe they consider the price a main selling point for their practice. So, I guess Dr. Fatah would be on his best behavior around me to "make things right". I don't think one of his dental awards were for Mr. Congeniality. My review stands. I still do not recommend this place. I looked into their other offices and I thought one of the dentist's name was a joke "Dr. Toothaker." So I Googled him, and you might want to as well, he used to work at the VA in Omaha. What I saw made me even less likely to use Aspen Dental, if they trust their brand with that dentist. He is in Ft Dodge. read more

The Aspen Dental on Merle hay Road are always very accommodating for working me in on short notice. The whole staff is very friendly and always there to make you feel like a valued customer. Dr. Fatah is the best! read more

I started going to Aspen Dental in August 2014. Every time I had an appointment, I was treated with professionalism and they made me feel so welcome. The entire staff is great. I had my final appointment today and walked out very happy. I don't go to an office for the ambience, I go for the ability to take care of my needs. This was done at Aspen. Dr. Fatah and his entire staff are the best. read more

My mother went in yesterday to get some teeth removed. The staff wasn't very comforting to her as she explained the dentist office scared her a little. They didn't introduce themselves or cover the needles as to ease my mothers fear a little. The staff forgot to prescribe her any pain meds then continued to just yank each tooth out. My mom was in excruciating pain, shaking and crying and the staff didnt even ask if she was ok or anything they could do. It looked like a scene out of a horror film. Very unprofessional. read more

Won't go anywhere else! The staff are wonderful and genuinely care. :)

I have had a very positive experience with Aspen Dental in Ankeny, Iowa. They are very good at what they do and will accommodate their patients, within reason, to their requests. They go beyond for their patients. I was treated like family by Theresa, Jamie, Dr Blount, and Jessica (the office manager). I highly recommend this office, as well as the office on Merle Hay Road. Both offices are owned by Dr. Fatah. read more

Never been so insulted by a supposed professional in my life. I would not recommend this office to anyone. The dentist was rude and condescending. He had made up his mind what was the most expensive option and didn't care about the patient at all. I felt very insulted when I left the office. Too bad I didn't read the reviews prior to being insulted. read more

My step-daughter chipped a big part of her tooth off on Friday afternoon and was scheduled to travel the following week so I needed a quick appointment. Having called 6 or 7 other places with no openings on such short notice, called Aspen. I got someone who initially tried to book me at an office in Oregon and I clearly should have taken that as a sign and kept moving. They got me an appointment for the next Monday here in town. My step-daughter got set up as a new patient, was told by a tech she'd need a filling and they'd get her on their way, and then saw a gum specialist who also couldn't do the filling she needed, told her they "didn't want to stress out the relief dentist" and sent her off with a $28 tube of toothpaste. Yes it was late in the afternoon that day, yes I undoubtedly had an answering service listen to me explain how critical it was we get this done and an not office worker, but here we are on Wednesday with her at the airport waiting for her plane and another chunk of tooth breaks off. By the time she got to her mom's after a full day of travel her original filling had fallen out too. New patient or not, we went there on Monday to avoid this stress and further damage to her tooth and got zero help. They wasted a full hour of my husband's and step-daughter's time, time we could have spent somewhere (maybe even another Aspen) that would have actually fixed the problem. Would never recommend. Good service does sometimes mean a doctor (even a relief doctor) stays late - or even sees- the patients who come in with a serious problem. Instead they did exactly nothing to help and she's the one suffering. Hope that doesn't stress your relief dentist out too much. If only you'd had the same concern for her. read more

I am not totally unsatisfied with my treatment. I started out in the Ottumwa office and it was a nightmare. bruises on my face and dentist wanted to stop before extractions were finished. I wanted implants as my teeth would not even begin to stay in my mouth. They didn't do that there so referred me to the Merle Hay office in Des Moines. The staff is great and the dentist is okay as well. My problem is that after spending over $10000 for the implants one is failing. After the ex rays and being told I had plenty of bone for the implant. I am now told that there just wasn't enough bone for that implant. I asked what the plan was and was told that it will continue to get looser. They could take it out, or just wait and do it later if the pain got to where I couldn't tolerate it. I really don't have a problem with the implant failing, I have a problem with spending that much money on that implant only to have it fail. I am not a rich person. The financing you can get very easy, but the interest rate kills you. So not only will I not have an implant, I am out all the money spent plus the outrages interest charged. read more