Aspen Dental Question

[RockAndRollBallerina]

First off I have no dental insurance, I haven't seen a dentist since I was 18, I'm 21 now and have teeth that are bothering me and want to see a dentist about it.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the out of pocket expenses for Aspen Dental are?

 

[Tikitoi]

I would go to a real dentist not those chain dentistry like aspen. Especially that you haven't been in 3 years, you need a good dentist. Just ask around and when they aspen say thanks but no thanks.

 

[Pigeon]

It's going to depend on what you need done. You could call and find out what they charge for a basic exam, x-rays and a cleaning. Then, before you have work done to correct problems, you could ask for an estimate.

I haven't heard great things about Aspen from folks I know who've used them. I would be more inclined to get some recommendations from friends.

It's going to be expensive--decent dental care is. If you happen to live in an area with a dental school, some of them have clinics, where students will do the work, carefully supervised by an experienced dentist. That's much cheaper.

But please, dental problems don't just get better. You need to have your teeth checked and it is worth the expense. Bad teeth can cause all sorts of problems.

 

[DaisyLynn]

First off I have no dental insurance, I haven't seen a dentist since I was 18, I'm 21 now and have teeth that are bothering me and want to see a dentist about it.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the out of pocket expenses for Aspen Dental are?

I go to Aspen and I love my dentist! He's just as real as any other DDS out there. The initial exam and xrays are free (I believe). Then they tell you what you need and the cost. I think that the whole sales approach they take is what turns people off. Luckily I haven't needed anything more than cleanings and I did get some bleaching trays - but I've had a good experience.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

Thanks for the input, I will certainly check and see if there are any dental schools in the area I live in. I also intend on trying Aspen as well and compare the costs of the two places and make my decision from there.

 

[daisax]

In our area, many dentists will have a "new patient" special, so for $50 or whatever you 'll get an exam and xrays. You could try calling local dentists and asking.

My sister got an estimate from Aspen after not going to the dentist for 10 years. They had her convinced she needed $7,000 in treatment. She got a second opinion, and that dentist thought that 3/4 of what Aspen had said was not necessary. Sure enough, she went with the second doc and only spent a few hundred out of pocket. There's more work to be done, but none of it was emergent.

Because they have a formal payment plan, some Aspen docs may feel they can run up the tab, because people won't have to come up with it all at once. The thing is, many local dentists will also work out a payment plan, or refer you to a reputable financing company.

 

[swald91]

Well going to a dentist is a wise choice...if you at least go to this place you are making a positive start. I love my dentist and he started at one of those chain dentist places...if that's what you can afford you should go! Good luck!!!

 

[DMass]

Stay away from Aspen. One of my teeth that was filled years ago actually broke. It didn't hurt but it had to be pulled. I went to Aspen because they take pretty much any insurance plan.

After X-rays and an exam by the doctor, they told me all the work I needed would be about 5000 dollars.

No thanks. See ya.

Went to a regular dentist, he pulled the tooth, paid the $20 co-pay, saved $4980.

 

[rascalmom]

First off I have no dental insurance, I haven't seen a dentist since I was 18, I'm 21 now and have teeth that are bothering me and want to see a dentist about it.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the out of pocket expenses for Aspen Dental are?

To answer your original question, no one can really answer your question. We don't know what you need - and no dental office will either until they've seen you. A lot of the chain dental offices will have a "deal" for a new patient exam and some x-rays - but that does not cover the cost of any needed treatment.

Since you say you have teeth that are bothering you, chances are you will need some work done. Whether that is a simple filling, a root canal and crown, extraction, etc. cannot be determined without seeing you.

If you have no insurance, all of the costs are "out-of-pocket". Most dental offices these days offer some type of payment plan....there are lots of them out there. CareCredit, etc. Those are not unique to the chain-type dental offices.

I am from a different part of the country, but most of the chain practices are set up to give new patients a "loss leader" with a cheap exam and x-rays, followed up by a hard sell of expensive treatments. It may be that you need expensive treatment, but in my experience, you will be less likely to be given lower cost alternatives at that type of practice. If you find yourself faced with a $$$$ treatment plan, I would recommend going for a 2nd opinion at a private practice. Less hussle more care, in general. YMMV