Aspen Dental Class Action Lawsuit
By Matt O’Donnell
UPDATE:
The Aspen Dental class action lawsuit was dismissed on March 27, 2015.
Aspen Dental, one of the nation’s largest corporate-dental chains, has been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing it of illegally owning and operating dental practices and of deceiving patients with aggressive sales pitches for expensive treatments after they’ve been lured in with promises of free exams and X-rays. Aspen Dental owns and controls 358 clinics across the country and markets to low-income patients that can’t afford dental care.
The Aspen Dental class action lawsuit was filed following a June 2012 report by PBS FRONTLINE and the Center for Public Integrity titled “Dollars and Dentists” that uncovered Aspen Dental’s practice of servicing patients who can’t afford a dentist and then allegedly locking them into debt. Some patients in the report also alleged they were overcharged and given unnecessary treatments.
The Aspen Dental class action lawsuit was filed October 18, 2012 by 11 patients across the country who accuse the company of violating laws in 22 states that require clinics to be owned by dentists actively performing procedures onsite. The laws are designed to prevent business interests from overshadowing those of patients.
Aspen Dental said Friday that the accusations in the class action lawsuit “are entirely without merit,” and that it provides support services to dental offices owned by local dentists.
“The dentists and staff at Aspen Dental offices around the U.S. provide access to high quality, affordable dental care for millions of patients,” the Syracuse-based company said. “Their singular commitment is to do what’s right for their patients.”
However, attorneys for the Plaintiffs say in the class action lawsuit that Aspen Dental trains the dentists and sets production goals for them, and accuse the company of illegally practicing medicine. They are seeking class-action status to cover potentially tens of thousands of current and former patients.
In 2010, Aspen Dental reached a $175,000 settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office over misleading information about discounts, consultations, financing and other promotions.
Plaintiffs in the Aspen Dental Class Action Lawsuit are represented by attorneys Brian Cohen and Jeffrey Norton.
Updated October 22nd, 2012
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382 thoughts onAspen Dental Class Action Lawsuit
I had work done in February of 2021 the total amount was 4766.00 I have paid this bill for 4 years now at 184.00 a month I am being charged 4 different interest rates?? Reached out to dental first financing and they did not assist with these issues at all I did not sign anything that stated my interest rates would change nor did I receive a phone call nothing!!! Dental first financing stated they mailed out a notice I never received nor do I feel like that would be an appropriate way to change rates!!! So I still have 1613.07 left after 4 years of paying and 6 more years to pay my minimum payment of 184.00 a month which is a total of 10 yrs to pay off $4766.00 now you do the math and tell me how much interest that is equal 🟰 absurd!!!!
I had work done in February of 2021 the total amount was 4766.00 I have paid this bill for 4 years now at 184.00 a month I am being charged 4 different interest rates?? Reached out to dental first financing and they did not assist with these issues at all I did not sign anything that stated my interest rates would change nor did I receive a phone call nothing!!! Dental first financing stated they mailed out a notice I never received nor do I feel like that would be an appropriate way to change rates!!! So I still have 1613.07 left after 4 years of paying and 6 more years to pay my minimum payment of 184.00 a month which is a total of 10 yrs to pay off $4766.00 now you do the math and tell me how much interest that is equal 🟰 absurd!!!! Who do I contact how is this legal??????!!! Its NOT!!!!!
Aspen Dental is the WORST! Aspen has my insurance funds and refuse to review my account and refund since they billed insurance in April. I paid the required 60% up front for two crowns and they billed my insurance for the balance. On my next visit the dentist said she was unable to get her hands back far enough to do the job and I had to find another dentist to complete the crown. I did and paid full price because Aspen has my funds locked. I have called Aspen billing every two weeks since April to recover my funds. Billing tells me a ticket has been created and needs to be reviewed. They refuse to provide a ticket number, phone number or transfer me to a supervisor to escalate and tell me I just need to wait or just hang up my call.
The WORST!!! I had X-rays and everything you can think of during my trip to have my wisdom teeth out. 2 months later they decided that they didn’t see something extra they might have to do so now they want to charge me and extra 300 I don’t have!!! Sooo mad! Talking to a law team in the morning!
Aspen dental was one of the worst experiences that I have had in my life!!!
I will never go back there. They will not explain why they keep putting stuff on my bills that I don’t ask for. Also, in quotes they have something worth $180 listed 13 times?? They refuse to put insurance discounts on my bill and try to charge me the full amount…telling me to take out a loan and then it will all be sorted later…what kind of sketchy place is that? Do not go there
Aspen Dental lied and took advantage of me. Gave me a credit card I can never pay off.
I would not take my dog to Aspen Dental.. they are the single worst thing that has ever happened in dentistry. Someone please stop them from destroying other poor people who go there. They use dirty equipment, do not sanitize properly, sell you dentures that cost $10k to $20k before you even know what you have done. The doctor uses patient Valium to keep calm during his procedures.
What can be done to stop them? If there is a class action law suit I have insider info and would be happy to participate. This must stop.