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Updated by user Jan 07, 2015

Its been a while since I updated so here I am! Still without dentures, still having pain.

I had the micro implants removed by a very reputable dentist. I have moved forward with my lawsuit and am waiting to hear back from the Aspen Dental lawyers.

I had also filed a complaint with Massachusetts Health and Human Services Dentistry Licensing Board. I sent many photos as well as what I had experienced.

They took one look at my photos and escalated my complaint. A very nice woman contacted me from the Licensing Board who asked me many questions. I also was informed of more things that the Haverhill Aspen Dental dentist did against dental guidelines. She also neglected to give the licensing committee ALL of my xrays, just like she tried to do to me!

I was told that alone shows her character! My complaint went before a dental peer committee, and it was agreed that they do not want her practicing. The last I heard from the Licensing Board was that she had lawyers trying to fight for her to keep her license. How long can she fight it?

I don't know... I just hope she loses it soon and doesn't hurt anyone else in the meantime!

Updated by user Mar 01, 2014

My lawyer has taken my case. He himself is a dentist and knows what he's looking at.

I had also filed a complaint with the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Professions Licensure, Office of Public Protection. I have been in contact with this office, and they have been wonderful. My case has been expedited to go before the dental board for review. At this time I don't dare say to much, but they have given me some reassurance that my claim is legit.

I am anxiously awaiting to see what will happen to her license (License status is currently "probation!").

A even scarier point is, even if her license was taken away, her daughter is practicing under her! Kind of reminds me of a monster movie when you think its over and the monster is gone, but they pan off to a dark corner with a hatchling or baby.

Updated by user Nov 23, 2013

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! Just an update on whats going on with me.

After posting my Aspen Dental Nightmare review I actually came into contact with the woman "AnnieFarber" who posted something similar has happened to her(her reply is below my post). We have drawn strength in each other, and we encourage each other to push forward. Her Aspen Dental Nightmare was in Iowa, and mine in New Hampshire. We spend hours online looking up information, and we are still amazed at all the carnage Aspen Dental has been leaving behind, ruining peoples lives!

We have each seen Lawyers. She has been damaged more then I have! Her Lawyer immediately took her case, while I am waiting for my Attorney to review all my dental records and xrays. If he doesn't take my case, I am not going to stop, I will find one that will!

I will update again, once I know I have an Attorney that will take my case(hoping by midweek I'll know).

Meanwhile there is strength in numbers! If anyone in Iowa had an Aspen Dental Nightmare, please send a message to my Facebook friend on the "Aspen Dental Nightmares" page.

Her attorney is looking for more people who want to file a claim against them(Iowa). https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aspen-Dental-Nightmares/213106****03040

Original review posted by user Oct 24, 2013

PLEASE READ THIS... DO NOT LEAVE FEEDBACK FOR THEM UNTIL ALL YOUR PROCEDURES ARE COMPLETE!

I had all my teeth removed painlessly there, that is what I gave them the five stars for... but after that it was all down hill once we financed dentures and extended care. I have anxiety problems and have been a bad gagger since childhood and they were reminded of this at every visit! I could not keep the dentures in without gagging.

We were told that in order for the dentures to NOT make me *** the roof could be taken off, but that would mean I would have to have micro implants, so my dentures could snap in place and not move. Again we were told we would need a better pair of dentures to accommodate the implants, and we financed yet again more work... The day of the implants being put in, I was not medicated properly and voiced my concern that I felt it wasn't working. They told me it was my anxiety!

The first implant was unbelievably painful and I was told it was ghost pain! Needless to say when I left I needed a cold compress for my jaw, and I probably came close to leaving my finger prints permanently imbedded in the chair. My new dentures finally came in, and i went to get fit into the new denture, but two of the implants were still bothering me and I wanted to wait. The dentist decided to go ahead and not engage the two uncomfortable posts.

They ended up gluing those two posts into the dentures and were yanking on them for at least 5 minutes before they realized they were stuck... all the time I was SCREAMING and I was being told it was good they were in so tight that means it was a good fit! It was like getting teeth pulled with no Novocaine! They had to drill holes in my new dentures to get me out.

One implant is now useless from being ground down so much. And one of them is still uncomfortable and its been about a year. I have since seen a new dentist and had a 3D scan of my implants, 2 are almost up into my sinus, some angled incorrectly, and some are not even embedded into bone at all. Needless to say..

I will never step foot in there again! Do NOT be swayed by their free xrays and consultation, its not worth it!

Monetary Loss: $12000.

Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts

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Nahom Yry

That must be what they did to me. They were raving how well I brushed Etc.

etc. And then, suddenly Dr. Sidney Schultz pulled out my top middle front teeth and his helper Jade threw it into the garbage. I was hoping for a miracle;that they could put the teeth they stole from my gums back in.

Those teeth were pristine.

While I had an old amalgam filling in a back molar that was begging to get fixed. lesliejjones@***.com

Shanequa Jhj
reply icon Replying to comment of Nahom Yry

Jade, please return my real teeth and I will give you some jewelry in exchange. Where can we meet?

I'll even pay for lunch or dinner. makelemonade100@***.com

Guest

What was your outcome?

Guest

I feel your pain. I too have a lawyer who has agreed to take my case.

My dentist at aspen not only caused injury because she slipped while pulling a tooth. But she removed all the bone that dentures need to sit on in the back. I have no ridge my mouth is flat. She also tried to convince me my dentures were fitting right I just needed time to heal.

The dentures in the front were so tall I couldn't close my lips. I also couldn't eat with them because of how bad the flexed. Fast forward after a couple visits and the dentist telling how stupid I was and knew nothing of what I was talking about I went to see a new dentist to see if the way the top dentures were right. I was 3 weeks into the healing of all my upper teeth being pulled.

The new dentist was shocked. He too said the dentures fit so badly it was almost like I was wearing someone else's teeth. He said he would try to help by putting in a soft liner which didn't help much at all. And a week later the denture snapped from all the flexing.

So now the 1600 dollar dentures were gone and I had nothing. So out of pocket I had to pay 1200 for a new denture. I got a hold of Aspen told them not so ever nicely I want my money back and transferred myself to the new dentist. I also called my insurance company told them of the issue there reply why did I have all my teeth pulled on the top.Well The dentist Susan Lee stated due to me having a gastric bypass my teeth had lost all the calcium.

And if I wanted to save all my teeth it would run me about 17000. With fillings and root canals and caps that's how much it would run and that was with me having duel coverage. Or top dentures for 1600. I live on a disability income of 703 a month so I went with dentures.

Insurance said my teeth were nowhere needing all the work she said I would need. Any way Aspen said bring the broken denture in and they would refund the 1600 for the denture. And send the money to my insurance so that they could cover my new denture made by my new dentist which they did. My new dentures were amazing I loved them.

Now I get a notice from my secondary insurance they are now being built by Aspen for dentures. Wait what?I thought Aspen would have build both of my insurance. They didn't. That 17000 they said it would cost was after billing only 1 insurance.

Fast forward new dentist got my exrays and is even more upset. I had 2 cavities and didn't need a single tooth pulled. And even though the dentures he made fit fine now as weeks go by it is very apparent they won't fit very long because of my shrinkage as the healing goes on. All the soft liners in the world won't make dentures fit.

I need to have bone grafting done. As because of the damage if I want to have teeth again it will be only with implants. Which my dentist doesn't do. So my dentist said he will go to court and help me with my fight against Aspen.

He will and the other dentist in his office and his assistant. I wish any and everyone would read this blog before thinking of going to Aspen Dental. My lawyer is going for negligence for medical bills and future surgery I am going to need. Oh did I mention As0en fired my dentist and the office manager?

Yup 2 months after my extractions. In case someone reads this in my area I went to the aspen by Vancouver mall.

And the dentist is Susan Lee. I am not sure were she is working as a butcher dentist now.

Guest

Does a dental assistant need to do the X-rays. Or can it be the office manager?

Teri N Xba

Oh Dear God, what a HORRIBLE thing to have to go through!! I hope you and the first writer get everything you are asking for.

I have been approached by two different dentists, and there is NO WAY I will EVER have this done now.

I got chills just reading your story!! Wish you the best!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Teri N Xba

I had all-on-4 dentistry, surgery and implants done without any pain in Ensanada in June and am entirely satisfied, I had a concierge with me most of the time plus half the accommodation was free. I went to Cancun on first of October to have my permanents fitted and now am still very pleased with the excellent work and attention received.

They paid for the flight and accommodation to Cancun which was more like a vacation. I go back in March for a checkup. The cost was approximately 1/3 the cost of the same work with same materials as in California.

I have only praise for my dentist. Of course I did much research and even followed up with other past patients.

Guest

Thanks for taking time to write all this...I can't believe they are doing this.

I was almost got by them.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1051831

I got screwed out of $1400.00 at the Killeen, TX office. Was told I needed a root canal and new crown so I agreed to it cost $2400.00.

Which I now know I could have gotten at a reputable Dentist for $ 1795.00.

But the issue is first the Dentist said he could save tooth after he removed the old crown the cavity was small he could fix it and put new crown. Sounded good. But first crown he put in chipped first night, so go back he hammers and chisels it out almost broke jaw. Put another crown in, in about 6 weeks I had swollen jaw, gums under tongue look like I had golf ball in jaw severe pain so I called on Friday morning was told couldn't see me until following week.

I said NO my tooth is assess, I have to see someone today, was told someone would me back, didn't so about 2:00 pm severe pain all this time, I called the emergency line, Dr called me back and called in some antibiotics said come in following morning, I did, xrayed tooth and said you gonna have to get root canal, but Im sending you to specialist. So I spent $ 1400.00 for nothing but pain and misery now got to pay someone else to fix my tooth. $2,000 more. I have asked for refund of my money have not received it.

But will pursue it further if needed.

BOTTOM LINE DO NOT GO HERE!

Guest

Jut went yesterday to the Bridgeton, MO location for the free x-rays and consult. They want $2000 for a cleaning, two fillings, sedation, and surgical extraction of my two impacted wisdom teeth (which of course will be done by an oral surgeon who is not based at their location).

I was going to follow through with letting these people drain my money from me...of which I have very little already. I am a single 21 year old full time college student with no insurance...so of course their "payment plans" (aka financing with insane interest rates) seemed attractive, as well as necessary.

I'm so very happy I did my research before paying them a dime. I cannot believe they are allowed to continue practicing under their current business structure.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-972190

They are practicing illegally in Missouri to start with. State law requires dentists to own practices.

A$pen's work-around is to have the dentist own a "shell corporation" which owns nothing, but gives A$pen the right to "manage" his practice in perpetuity.

That is the scam that A$pen and other predatory corporate dental chains play around the country.

Board of dentistry can only discipline dentists. They cannot discipline executives and investors who are not dentists.

Guest

I thank God I chose not to proceed with their services for my daughter! I had a bad feeling and cancel all further appointments. Only thing they did was xray and the examine.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-930528

You are a very smart person. Share the word. Down with aspen.

Guest

Bad or faulty implant work can be devastating to the patient. It means you can't wear the denture and have no teeth.

I've worked in law firms as a paralegal and have seen it first hand. There have been attempted suicides over bad implants.

Not having teeth and having chronic severe pain in your mouth is devastating physically, psychologically and emotionally. These people should sue and win punitive damag

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-906138

Everything you say here is true including the attempted suicide I did win my case but I settled out of court because ,although my lawyers thought my attempt might help my case...Aspen Dentals lawyers dug deep into my past trying to see what other problems I have had unrelated to my teeth and my lawyers said they would pick me about on the stand and they were worried I wasnt strong enough..which I wasnt. So I settled..so Please if you do go to lawyers be strong..be proud of what you are doing, bringing this company down..helping yourself to get better..As of today 4 years later I am still hurting..even tho I won my case my lawyers took half and the repairs I need are way above what I won from the courts.

Dont settle fight for yourself.

I am now close to the mexican boarder where a wonderful dentist who I have heard about Dr.Martinez in Naco who I hope will be able to help me..for less money ...money that we dont have..sold our house and everything in it and bought a Rv to live in and travel..which I am enjoying but wish I cold enjoy all the different foods and wear my teeth and go

places..but the pain is to intense to be out for long. I am hoping he has a payment plan as we are living only on my husbands Retirement and my small business I do from the Rv.

So please pray for me and my husband who has endured all this with me that we can get things right for me again.

I am not allowed to mention Aspen Dental so I am anonymous now, but

I was a heavy poster in this discussion and Aspen Dental Nightmares on facebook..Please do your research..get 2nd opinions..I didn't even have to have my teeth taken out ..bridge work would of worked great..but I was *** and took their words They were DRs after-all. Even tho I found out later mine was fresh out of school.

We used there care credit program which is now also in a Civil Law suit..because we didnt have insurance. Still havent heard if I will be or my mother who was the main name on the card mine was second awarded any money.

Just be aware if you do go take notes get everything they say in writing.. begin a journal.things I should of done and it would of been easier for me to win my case on facts other than the fiction Aspen Dental Lawyers were trying to make surface.

Vertis Wmk
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-972246

Is this Dr. Martinez the one in Arizona?

What a nightmare you went through, how these people are still in business and running commercials on tv is just mind blowing, it was that commercial that took me here after doing a search. All I can say is when it comes to your teeth especially at this stage of things 1) get a second opinion. 2) Find an actual Dentist/Surgeon who does this and avoid these type of "franchise" outlets, it's going to cost you the same or a little more but it's worth it if you want quality work and results. 3) Take care of your teeth with at least yearly visits to a reputable Dentist so that you can avoid ending up in need of dentures.

4) Dental universities are good places to go if they have dental programs that are usually income related, it's where our family went back in the '60's, they have to learn on someone and it's a good trade off. 5) A good Dentist will tell you to see a periodontist who will tell you what your options are and even if this means taking out the teeth you have left, it's because the sooner you get the metal for implants in or so you can be able to snap your dentures onto those metal anchors, makes your body think you still have teeth and that will stop the bone loss. If you lose too much bone there's not much you can do except hope that a bone graft using your own bone or yes from a deceased's bone will be your only options. 6) Beware of having your wisdom teeth removed unless they are causing you real pain, I've read articles that say many Dental Surgeons think that this can lead to gum disease due to the pockets not fully healing shut.

At least I have a Dentist who is honest enough to tell me I'm beyond that and you don't realize it has to be done over again and again every so often, and the surgeon who removed my teeth also was honest about this and as hard as it was to hear, I should have listened to all of them when they said you should just have them all removed so we can at least preserve the bone. It wasn't due to my not caring for my teeth, but once you're battling gum disease it can be impossible to get those abscessed pockets to close up completely and all it takes is one tiny speck of food getting into one and the whole process repeats. It was a case of no money or insurance until it was too late, and being told at 42 years old that you're better off letting us (public Medicaid Dr. and not a nice one) pull them, when all your teeth feel tight, just keep having abscesses, it's only natural to reject that in favor of trying to do all you can to avoid that, gum surgery etc.

My dentist was dismayed at the "clearcut" as she called it that the periodontist did to my gums, she felt it was too much considering it was obvious I took care of my teeth, no cavities except old ones from childhood. I wish I'd listened to them and all I can do is hope that one day they will be able using stem cells, to be able to use my own tissue to grow gums and bone maybe even teeth, I've read much about this but they just aren't quite there yet, they're working on it and I have hope whenever I hear about growing body parts, organs etc. I have an upper that needs relining which the first one will be at no cost to me, but the lower is as they all told me, nobody likes their lowers because it's difficult to get comfortable ones that don't press against the inner portion below your tongue. At least they now have 3'D computer mapping to get you the best fit possible, because once too much bone is gone, those trays the dentist uses aren't made to get impressions with so much bone loss and are so painful to press down on until the "plaster" they use sets, they can't use lidocaine either.

Want to torture someone? All you need do is press down really hard on that portion of a person's mouth and they'll tell you anything you want to know. Lastly, it's a cryin' shame that the insurance industry regards dentures and implants as "cosmetic" and therefore won't pay for them, some will help with 1st denture only, it's our teeth and a person's health starts with what you're able to eat.

Also, if you're smoking or know someone who is, tell them that it will lead to gum disease and help them or yourself to stop by using any of the options out there, I switched to vaping and it was very easy, I wish I had known this way back when I was a teenager, I never would have started. Good luck to us all and either pray or just hope, send the thoughts out there that the people working on all these new advances will be successful sooner than we or they think possible.

Guest

You are whats wrong with this country! You make me sick.

I hope your lawyer charges you thousands and thousands of dollars for your bs lawsuit that you will never see a dime from. But het you can always just sue someone else to make your living .

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-802276

you are a sad person who could respond with a comment like that..this person was wronged by a company who should not be allowed to do what oral surgeons should do..they are not qualified,. who only are out to get there daily quota as far as money for the company,, a company who gives incentives and bonuses for meeting those goals..Please dont make this kind of assumption with out good knowledge of what you are saying..there are many Aspen Dental victims out there.read up on there stories before you comment on this.

Or maybe you are the dentist who did this to her... retaliating you certainly are not a person with compassion.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-802276

So "Disgusted", I take it you work for Aspen?!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-906140

Yes, I do work for aspen dental. Why do you people feel the need to come here and tell the truth. It is hurting my paycheck.

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