Aspen Dental - Ephrata, PA: GET A SECOND OPINION BEFORE AGREEING TO ANYTHING
I strongly recommend that anyone considering Aspen Dental in Ephrata get an independent second opinion before agreeing to or paying for any treatment they recommend.My experience left me extremely concerned about their treatment planning, billing practices, communication, and overall approach to patient care.
I went to Aspen because I had **tooth pain from a filling that had fallen out** and needed that specific problem addressed, potentially including a root canal. I did not go in expecting an overhaul of my entire mouth.
Instead, I was presented with a treatment plan totaling approximately **$14,557**, with an estimated **$5,892.42 out of pocket after my United Concordia PPO insurance**. They recommended more than SIX crowns and told me that existing dental work/fillings were essentially failing or "unbonding" and needed to be replaced with crowns.
What made this even more concerning was that I did not feel the dentist performed the type of thorough examination I would expect before recommending thousands of dollars of major restorative dental work. I have had a significant amount of dental work over the years, and the experience genuinely made me feel as though they saw that existing dental work as an opportunity to recommend replacing a substantial amount of it.
I specifically asked: **If these fillings are supposedly becoming unbonded, why can't the affected filling simply be removed and replaced/rebonded when clinically appropriate instead of putting crowns on all of these teeth?** The dentist did not come back and explain the clinical reasoning to me. Instead, I was simply told through the person discussing the financial treatment plan that the answer was no. When someone is recommending multiple crowns and thousands of dollars in treatment, the patient deserves an actual clinical explanation of WHY each procedure is necessary and what reasonable alternatives exist.
There were also items added to my proposed bill--including **PerioStom and dental-cleaning/home-care devices or products**--that I do not recall requesting or having adequately explained to me beforehand. I was also presented with periodontal/gingivitis-related treatment despite not previously being aware of having gingivitis. I had **no new cavities identified**, yet somehow walked out with a nearly $15,000 treatment plan.
I then took Aspen's treatment plan to **another dental practice in Wyomissing for a second opinion**, and they were extremely surprised by the scope and cost of what had been proposed and questioned whether all of that work was actually indicated. That reinforced every concern I already had.
And here's the kicker: **Aspen didn't even resolve the problem that brought me there.** I waited more than THREE HOURS, the office appeared understaffed, my teeth were not cleaned, and the urgent dental issue I actually needed addressed was not treated. When it became apparent that I likely needed an emergency root canal, they could not get me in within a reasonable timeframe.
I declined their treatment plan and contacted the office the next day requesting my digital X-rays and panoramic imaging so I could obtain urgent care elsewhere. I was told they could not electronically send/scan my records to me because of "HIPAA" and that they could only print them. I was also advised that obtaining the records could take more than seven business days. Meanwhile, I needed those images to pursue treatment for an actively painful tooth.
I asked for Aspen Dental's corporate customer-service number because I wanted to formally escalate my concerns. The front-desk representative told me that the number available to her would essentially redirect me back to their office. I made it very clear that I was unhappy with my experience and intended to escalate the matter.
They also offered financing/payment-plan options for the substantial balance, which I immediately declined.
I work in healthcare. I understand that insurance does not cover everything, that treatment recommendations can legitimately differ between providers, and that expensive dental work is sometimes medically necessary. **That is not what bothered me.** What bothered me was being presented with an enormous treatment plan containing multiple major procedures and additional products/treatments without receiving what I considered adequate clinical explanation, informed discussion of alternatives, or resolution of the actual urgent problem that brought me into the office.
This experience felt financially driven rather than patient-centered, and I left feeling like I was being taken advantage of.
I am extremely grateful that I did.
I will never return to Aspen Dental in Ephrata, and based on my experience, I cannot recommend them. read more
