Felt overcharged and misled about pricing…read more
I had two appointments with Aspen Dental this week--one on Monday and another on Wednesday. While I appreciate how quickly they were able to schedule me (I called on Friday and was seen by Monday), the rest of my experience left me feeling taken advantage of financially.
When I arrived Monday, the front desk interaction felt abrupt. I was handed a tablet and told to fill it out after giving my name--no warm welcome or explanation. After about 10 minutes, I was taken for X-rays, then brought to a dental chair in an open room shared with others, divided only by cabinets.
The dentist came in for maybe two minutes. We chatted briefly, and she told me I had no cavities and my teeth looked good. Then she left, and the hygienist came in. She said I had periodontal disease and started measuring my gums, telling me that 4s and 5s were concerning. I didn't fully understand what that meant, but I trusted her and let her continue. She was very kind and professional.
Afterward, I was told to return to the waiting room to discuss pricing. This surprised me, as I have Tricare dental insurance and expected a standard cleaning to be covered. A staff member then told me I needed a deep cleaning due to periodontal disease and handed me a treatment plan. She said insurance would cover part of it, but I had to pay $791 up front before any work could be done.
I asked why my insurance didn't cover a regular cleaning, and she explained I needed extensive treatment. What bothered me was that no treatment was done that day--I was being asked to pay before anything happened. I mentioned that I couldn't keep missing work for more appointments, but they scheduled me for Wednesday after my shift.
When I returned Wednesday, the hygienist again was very kind. After the cleaning, she gave me a bag with an electric toothbrush, water flosser, toothpaste, and mouthwash. I told her I wasn't going to pay extra for those items, and she said I already had. When I got home and checked the paperwork, I realized that part of the $791 included the cost of that dental kit--something I didn't authorize or even know I was paying for. The electric toothbrush alone was priced nearly $100 more than it costs on Amazon, and I already own one.
I feel misled. I thought I was paying solely for a deep cleaning. Had I known I was being charged for a dental kit I didn't need, I would have declined it and potentially saved about $300. This lack of transparency makes me feel taken advantage of, and I will not be returning. Their business practices, in my opinion, were not entirely honest.
As a military veteran with Tricare insurance, I plan to share my experience with military social media groups and with Tricare directly so others can be aware and make informed decisions.