Aspen Dental - Duluth

Brayden Shovein · 1 out of 5 stars · 2 weeks ago

Just awful. I got motto aligners here back in February, they told me I only needed bottom aligners to fix crowding teeth. 8 months later my entire bite is completely off and my teeth are not aligned and it hurts to chew food on my left side and to rest my jaw. So I made an appointment with an actual orthodontics place for a second opinion. The doctors don’t try to build any type of friendly relationship. They just want the quick dollar and to quickly send me on my way without fixing any of my concerns that I came in with. Another thing with motto, they don’t tell you that you have this thing called ipr done until your sitting in the chair the day you get your attachments put on. Any questions about your motto treatment they are no help, you have to send messages and scans through the motto app. Anytime you ask the orthodontist on the app about any concerns or questions they send you a message to make an appointment for aspen dental to take a look. Once i get to aspen they tell me everything is fine like usual and send me out without figuring out the right solution for me. Very unprofessional.. Learn from my mistake. Waste of 8 months and 2 thousand dollars. What a shame!

Jason Walsh · 1 out of 5 stars · 2 weeks ago

I called to schedule a cleaning as a new patient. I showed up early to fill out forms and give my insurance card (Delta Dental of MN). 10 minutes after my appointment should have started, I stood and waited at the front desk and finally asked if I was fully checked in and they said they would check and, after coming back, said it would be 5 minutes. Another 10 minutes later, I was seen. They took a bunch of x-rays, then used some new dental tech to scan and create a 3D model of my teeth and used that opportunity to say "here is your teeth, you can see some crowding, let's use AI to create a 3D rendition of your teeth to illustrate what they'd look like if they weren't crowded." Oh, wow, straight teeth in the second image. Good thing AI was there to illustrate how straight teeth look. "We can tell you more about plans to help you get your teeth straight. Note: this is just an AI rendition and you might not actually be eligible for this, we'd need to do a secondary exam and figure out if you can actually be treated for crowded teeth." After waiting more, I saw the dentist and she called out some problem areas and said they would get that addressed during the cleaning. Then I was led out to "the green room, our favorite room" and I said "Is that where I wait for my cleaning?" and the response was "Oh, new patients don't get cleanings same day. This is where you wait for billing." I said I was scheduled for a cleaning and they said that, no, I wasn't. (The hygienist did kindly say she could fit me in) I was led to billing where an iPad with a bill for $1,386 was presented to me. "What is this?" I asked. "This is your cost for today." "What about my insurance? It's not covering any of it?" I asked. "It said you didn't have any insurance." The manager responded. "I do, I gave it to the front desk. Here it is." Turns out the front desk mistyped the membership id so it didn't register. "How was your visit today?" I was asked. I explained I was frustrated because I scheduled as a new patient for a cleaning and it was explained to me for a second time that new patients don't get cleanings on their first visit. I said no one on the phone told me that and they scheduled me anyway and the response was, "Oh that's our call center. They sometimes do a poor job of explaining these things." You have a call center?? By the time I left it had been 90 minutes since the start of my appointment. Morale of the story, find a small, local dentist and not a franchised shop that wants to upsell you on dental work and where no one is coordinated. Unbelievably wild experience at Aspen Dental. Unreal.

Conrad Mott · 5 out of 5 stars · 2 months ago

Well I had a severe toothache and was in Duluth daily and called around to find a dentist that would take a new patient for a tooth extraction. Aspen dental could get me in the next morning. I had a great experience with the staff being friendly and courteous. They took xrays and an examn and said they could remove the tooth. The Dr. explained everything and gave me a clear plan for future dental work. I would definitely recommend Aspen Dental to anyone. It was also the most painless tooth removal I have ever had I couldn't believe the tooth was out! Thanks

Crows Fox · 5 out of 5 stars · 5 months ago

All the reviews are true. I took the advice to not call and just show up in the morning. They got me in at 4pm and everyone was SO nice! The most pleasant dentist experience Ive had in years! Im cash pay, no insurance and I was still treated well unlike most the other dentist offices Ive been to in the last 2 years. They listened to me and didn't try to upsell me at all. Im very happy with the service I received and the plan we came up with together!

Jennifer Herrick · 1 out of 5 stars · 2 months ago

Before sharing my true feelings about Aspen Dental, I want to give credit where it’s due: I first went in on an emergency basis in summer 2025 thinking I had a cracked tooth. Though my initial appointment was far out, I called back after becoming a patient and they squeezed me in the next day to confirm my tooth was fine. Unfortunately, everything went downhill from there. The X-ray machine and guard method here is extremely painful—unlike anywhere else I’ve been. I cried the whole time from the pain. Additionally, their appointment reminders via call, text, and email are over-the-top aggressive (receiving 3 emails asking for a review is actually what prompted me to write this). The front desk is deeply disorganized. I confirmed an appointment was strictly for a cleaning, yet when I arrived, they claimed it was for a cavity fix. Because of their scheduling mistake, they had no time for my cleaning and made me reschedule for the next day. Furthermore, at almost every appointment they claim, “your insurance doesn’t cover that,” only to change their tune when challenged. My husband (who has the same insurance and also goes here) experiences this constantly; he usually asks them to mail our bill because by the time it arrives, it’s miraculously corrected. On my last visit, they claimed I owed $132 upfront for an X-ray, the front desk refused to mail the bill, and said I couldn't be seen unless I paid immediately. I decided to skip the X-ray, and just 2–5 minutes later, they admitted it was their mistake and the X-ray was 100% covered. Always challenge your bills here before paying! The only exception at the front desk is Logan—he is great and the only staff member up front who knows what he’s doing. I originally saw Holly, who was kind and gentle. I specifically requested her for my next two cleanings, but both times they put me with a male hygienist instead. He was incredibly rough, repeatedly poking my gums and making my eyes water making me grimace in pain. Instead of proper care, he focused on aggressive upselling like it was a retail store. My teeth are straight, yet he insisted I start their knock-off Invisalign and claimed I had an overbite (my husband was talked into this knock off Invisalign here and went through hell). He also aggressively pushed a toothbrush they sell, even after I mentioned someone in my life works for corporate and gets them for me cheaper. When I asked questions my PT requested regarding a nerve disorder in my mouth, he dismissed it and pushed their “Invisalign” again. On top of that, he played music in his chair with explicit lyrics ("I don't get angry when my mom smokes pot" What I Got by Sublime), and admitted he was colorblind and couldn't tell if my tooth needed work via their computer system. When a dentist finally checked my tooth, it was I believe the owner (who confirmed the filling issue). This was my first time seeing her because every other dentist they hire leaves shortly after—it’s seemingly a revolving door. I will never return here by choice. I hope sharing my story saves future patients the massive headache I had to go through. Best of luck to anyone who comes in after this. I wanted to add that there’s nothing Aspen Dental can do to make this right with me. I will not be back. My last add to this is that 30% of the population has a sensitivity to fragrance. Myself being one of them. Being assaulted by the smell of watermelon Febreeze with your mouth wide open is just gross. Please consider going fragrance free especially since this is a medical facility. Thank you!