I am sharing my experience at Aspen Dental on Newberry Road and Dr. Souren Hajjar so others can…read moremake an informed decision before seeking care there. Due to my insurance, my options for wisdom tooth removal were limited, but had I known what this experience would be like, I would have chosen differently.
I arrived on 03/31 for the removal of four fully erupted wisdom teeth. Before the procedure, I clearly informed both the assistant and the dentist that I had previously experienced heightened anxiety after receiving a high dose of nitrous oxide during a non-dental procedure. I explained that I was unsure whether I would have a similar reaction but wanted them to be aware.
While I was understandably a bit apprehensive about my first tooth extraction, I have never had dental anxiety and did not report it at any point during this visit. I have undergone multiple dental procedures, including root canals with local anesthesia, without complications or anxiety-related issues. However, I later discovered that the dental assistant documented in my procedure notes that I reported "severe dental anxiety," which is completely false and appears to have been added after the fact.
I was told I would receive a "low dose" of nitrous oxide (50%). Within about a minute, several local anesthetic injections were administered in rapid succession, and extractions began almost immediately, with minimal communication. I was instructed to alert them only if I felt "sharp" pain; any other discomfort was considered normal. Despite significant pain, but not the "sharp" pain described, I tried to endure it.
The procedure was performed at an extremely fast pace. I was not adequately numb for much of it and felt pain during multiple extractions. When I began to panic due to the speed and intensity, the dentist stopped briefly for less than 30 seconds and, almost annoyed, mentioned that if I was going to react this way, I could return another day for full sedation. This was after one tooth had already been extracted and while I was still under nitrous oxide. I did not want to prolong my recovery or pain, leaving me with little practical choice but to continue. Dr. Hajjar did not use this pause to make any adjustments or increase pain management. This was the only time during the whole procedure I was asked if I wanted to stop, although later in the medical record and through verbal communication, they falsely stated they asked me multiple times during the procedure.
The entire procedure was completed in approximately 10 minutes and 34 seconds. I know this specifically, because the dental assistant immediately commented proudly on the speed, referencing a timer they had set, as if completing the procedure as quickly as possible was the priority. Dr. Hajjar left barely saying a few words. When I questioned the assistant about the rushed pace, I was told the doctor had other patients to attend to.
After standing up, I noticed the clinical environment appeared disorganized and unclean, with tools, paperwork, and visible grime on surfaces.
From the time that I walked in at my appointment time to the time I was shown to the front door to leave still in an obvious state of distress, I was in the office for less than 45 minutes. Shocked at how rapidly I was discharged and my emotional state, a family member spoke with the team on my behalf immediately after, as I was still shaken to advocate for myself. The front desk was unaware I had even been discharged when my family member went inside. The receptionist had told them they expected me to be finished in 1-2 hours. When concerns were raised directly with Dr. Hajjar, they were dismissed with comments such as, "not everyone handles procedures well." No acknowledgment of the issues or indication of concern was offered. Later, when I followed up personally, I received a similar response. After reviewing my records, I also identified multiple discrepancies in the documentation of my visit.
At no point during this experience was I asked if I was okay or shown any empathy. I understood there would likely be discomfort, but at minimum, I expected communication, appropriate pain management, basic bedside manner, and to be treated with a standard level of care and respect. Instead, I felt treated as a task to be completed rather than as a human being.
This experience has had a lasting impact, and I strongly encourage others to carefully consider their options before seeking care with this provider.