RUN, do not walk away from this place if you have ANY kind of phobia or CPTSD. In spite of what their website says, these people have no real training in how to handle phobias.
The staff at Aspen were made aware of my issues at the time my appointment was made, again when I filled out the intake paperwork (which was clearly not read by the dentist), and again verbally by me when I was being taken back to xray.
This appointment was scheduled for Dec 23 at 10 am. They had PROMISED me that they could address my problem and "do it all in one day". It was scheduled as an "all -day" appointment. I did A LOT of mental and emotional work to be able to have the courage to come in. I walked back a panic attack moments before I entered the building.
I arrived early and brought everything I was told to bring from the website. I was polite and calm although VISIBLY uneasy and frightened.
Tessa the assistant was great and assured me they would get me fixed up. I was doing fine until Dr. Addison came into the room. I said out loud that this was where I was starting to get nervous. He barely introduced himself before walking behind me (out of my range of vision) and talking about xrays I couldn't see to the assistant as if I weren't there. He didn't really talk to me as a person until after he had his fingers in my mouth.
After all this, a treatment team met (without me) and then came into the room to inform me that their lab tech didn't show up.
I was then told to wait while they made a treatment plan. I waited calmly for them to come back and asked for my mother to be in the room. The first thing they tell me is that they CANNOT do it today because their SINGLE LAB TECH did not come to work. THIS WAS THE ONLY REASON I CAME - TO HAVE IT ALL DONE IN ONE DAY.
Of course I had a breakdown. Who wouldn't? Knowing my condition and fear, why would you not have rescheduled when the tech didn't come in? Why would you wait until after I did all the mental work (totally worthless now) and you had your hand in my mouth (major trigger)?
Now I am sitting here two days before the holidays with a HUGE PTSD flare-up which has caused stress hives (also pre-charted!) and a brand new gap in my teeth that makes me not want to speak with anyone. My holiday is more or less ruined along with my self esteem.
Yes. I got upset. I yelled and said they were a bunch of liars and left the building. I probably swore too as I was ABSOLUTELY DEVISTATED and felt totally betrayed. They literally made my biggest fears come true after assuring me they would not.
They have made NO attempt to reach out to me, but they have told my mother that they will no longer accept me as a patient because I was "too rude". I did not assault anyone, I did not damage anything, I simply yelled and left, but they "are really good at helping people who are scared". Right. Good at ruining any work they had to do to even show up.
They also failed to return a call from my husband who called to ask them why I was so upset.
Yes, I did yell. I said they lied to me - which they did, however THEY undid MONTHS of mental and emotional work, failed to keep an important promise, left my mouth in WORSE condition than when I went in, failed to apologize (just give excuses), and then to top it all off, BLAME ME AS "RUDE" for having a breakdown they caused.
Thanks for ruining not just my day, but our holidays, and making any work I have to do to address my dental issues a thousand times harder. You've proven that my distrust of dentists is 100% accurate. (Dentistry is the LEAST regulated medical specialty. Please be careful with your teeth!)
ETA: Please research "predatory dentists" and the large number of class action and state lawsuits against Aspen Dental for malpractice and deceptive business practices if you are still considering using this business. Also, if you have had work done here, please visit another dentist to be sure your work was indeed necessary. read more