Aspen Dental Ankeny Dentist Dr. Steven Yuan Charged With Incompetence and Sued for Malpractice What Iowa Patients Need to Know

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against Iowa Dental Board records, the civil complaint filed April 10, 2026 in Iowa state court, and reporting from Iowa Capital Dispatch dated May 8, 2026. Last Updated: May 9, 2026

An Ankeny, Iowa dentist is facing simultaneous pressure from two directions: a professional incompetence charge filed by the Iowa Dental Board and a civil malpractice lawsuit brought by a patient who says she was left with painful, unusable dentures after a procedure that removed 13 of her upper teeth. The Iowa Dental Board charged Dr. Steven Yuan of Aspen Dental in Ankeny with failure to maintain a reasonably satisfactory standard of competency in the practice of dentistry, and with knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of the profession. Neither proceeding has been resolved.

Quick Facts — Dr. Steven Yuan / Aspen Dental Ankeny

Field	Detail
Dentist	Dr. Steven Yuan
Practice Location	Aspen Dental, Ankeny, Iowa
Iowa Dental Board Charges	Failure to maintain satisfactory standard of competency; misleading/fraudulent representations
Charges Filed	February 9, 2026
Board Investigations Initiated	2023 (two separate investigations)
Board Hearing Date	September 11, 2026
Civil Lawsuit Filed	April 10, 2026
Plaintiff	Linda M. Clouser of Boone, Iowa
Defendants	Dr. Steven Yuan and Aspen Dental
Court	Iowa state court
Trial Date	TBD — not yet set
Settlement Status	None — active litigation
Last Updated	May 9, 2026

Current Status — Two Proceedings, One Dentist

• The Iowa Dental Board filed the incompetence charges against Yuan on February 9, 2026. They were only recently made public. A board hearing on the charges is scheduled for September 11, 2026.
• Yuan and Aspen Dental are currently defendants in a civil lawsuit filed April 10, 2026, by Linda M. Clouser of Boone, Iowa. Yuan and his fellow defendants have yet to file a response to the lawsuit’s allegations, and a trial date has yet to be set.
• No settlement has been reached in either proceeding. The board hearing and the civil case are both in early stages.

What Did the Iowa Dental Board Charge Dr. Yuan With?

As is customary with all of Iowa’s licensing board actions, the Iowa Dental Board has not publicly disclosed the alleged conduct that gave rise to the disciplinary charges, or stated when that conduct is alleged to have occurred. Board records indicate two investigations into Yuan’s conduct were initiated by the board at some point in 2023.

The two formal charges against Yuan are:

• Failure to maintain a reasonably satisfactory standard of competency in the practice of dentistry — meaning the board alleges his work fell below the professional standard Iowa requires of licensed dentists
• Knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of the profession — a charge involving how Yuan communicated with patients or others in a professional context

The board will present its case at a hearing on September 11, 2026, at which point Yuan will have the opportunity to respond. The board can impose a range of penalties, from a formal reprimand to license suspension or revocation, depending on what it finds. No penalty has been imposed yet.

What Is the Malpractice Lawsuit About? Clouser v. Yuan and Aspen Dental

The lawsuit alleges that on May 28, 2024, Clouser visited Aspen Dental in Ankeny and was examined by Yuan, who recommended the surgical extraction of all of her existing upper teeth in anticipation of a full upper-denture implant. The estimated cost of the treatment was $4,774 for tooth extractions and installation of the full upper denture.

What happened next, according to the lawsuit, went badly wrong. The lawsuit claims Yuan extracted 13 of Clouser’s teeth but failed to perform an adequate bone reduction or alveoloplasty — a procedure to eliminate sharp, uneven bone so as to better ensure a stable, comfortable foundation for dentures. The lawsuit claims Clouser was left with painful and bloody gums that caused considerable distress and interfered with her ability to eat.

An alveoloplasty is the reshaping of the jawbone after extractions — a standard step in preparing a patient’s mouth for dentures. Without it, patients can be left with uneven, jagged bone ridges that make dentures painful and unstable to wear.

The denture Yuan and Aspen Dental then provided Clouser interfered with her speaking, eating, and swallowing; impeded her tongue movement; and “had an outrageous appearance,” the lawsuit claims.

When Clouser returned for a remake of the dentures, things did not improve. In June 2024, Yuan allegedly ordered a remake of the dentures to be fitted on July 1, 2024. However, Clouser was in extreme pain and suffering from swelling in her mouth, and Yuan “would not see Ms. Clouser” when she arrived at the clinic that day. A different dentist, Dr. Marion Jane Blount, attempted to fit Clouser with the remade dentures but without success, and then informed Clouser that Yuan said he couldn’t make any dentures of any kind for her “because her mouth was deformed.”

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The Aspen Dental staff had provided Clouser with a CareCredit account to pay for her dental procedures, although that expense was significantly increased by an interest rate of 19.90%, the lawsuit claims. Clouser allegedly asked for a refund from Aspen Dental but that request was denied. Clouser was later examined by other dental professionals who advised her that reconstructive oral surgery was necessary, the lawsuit claims.

This case is not the first malpractice lawsuit to involve an Aspen Dental location in Iowa. A separate case involving another Iowa Aspen Dental dentist resulted in a license surrender earlier in 2026. For broader background on Aspen Dental’s legal history in privacy litigation, see our earlier coverage of the Aspen Dental data tracking settlement.

Are You Affected? What Former Patients of Dr. Yuan Should Know

This is an individual malpractice lawsuit brought by one patient — Linda Clouser — not a class action. That means Clouser’s case will address her specific injuries. Other patients who believe they experienced similar harm from Dr. Yuan at Aspen Dental Ankeny would need to pursue their own separate legal claims.

If you were a patient of Dr. Steven Yuan at Aspen Dental in Ankeny, here is what you should consider:

Step 1 — Request your dental records. Iowa law gives patients the right to obtain their own dental records. Request a complete copy from Aspen Dental Ankeny in writing and keep them securely. Records are essential in any malpractice evaluation.

Step 2 — Seek a second opinion. If you received dental work from Dr. Yuan and have concerns about the quality of that care — particularly extractions, dentures, or procedures where bone reduction was involved — see another licensed dentist for an independent evaluation.

Step 3 — Document your symptoms and costs. Keep a written record of any pain, complications, inability to eat or speak normally, follow-up treatments, and out-of-pocket costs tied to any problems with your dental work.

Step 4 — Consult a medical malpractice attorney if you were harmed. Iowa has a statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims — generally two years from the date of the injury or from when you reasonably discovered it. If you believe Dr. Yuan caused you harm, do not wait to seek a legal opinion. Most malpractice attorneys offer free initial consultations.

Step 5 — File a complaint with the Iowa Dental Board. If you have concerns about the quality of care you received from Dr. Yuan, you can file a complaint directly with the Iowa Dental Board. The board accepts complaints from patients and investigates licensed dentists. Contact the board at: https://www.idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Dentistry

Dr. Yuan and Aspen Dental Ankeny — Case Timeline

Milestone	Date
Iowa Dental Board opens two investigations into Yuan	2023
Clouser visits Aspen Dental Ankeny — 13 teeth extracted	May 28, 2024
Clouser returns for denture remake — Yuan refuses to see her	July 1, 2024
Iowa Dental Board files formal charges against Yuan	February 9, 2026
Clouser files civil malpractice lawsuit	April 10, 2026
Iowa Dental Board charges made public	May 2026
Iowa Dental Board hearing	September 11, 2026
Trial date	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Dr. Yuan or Aspen Dental Ankeny? 

No. The civil lawsuit filed April 10, 2026 was brought by one individual patient, Linda Clouser. It is not a class action. Other patients with concerns about Dr. Yuan’s care would need to pursue their own separate legal claims.

What is the Iowa Dental Board and what can it do?

 The Iowa Dental Board is the state regulatory body that licenses and disciplines dentists in Iowa. It can issue formal reprimands, impose fines, suspend or revoke a dentist’s license, or require additional training. The board has scheduled a hearing on its charges against Dr. Yuan for September 11, 2026. No penalty has been imposed yet — Yuan is entitled to a hearing before any disciplinary action is finalized.

What is an alveoloplasty and why does the lawsuit say it matters?

 An alveoloplasty is a surgical procedure that smooths and reshapes the jawbone after tooth extractions. It creates an even, stable foundation for dentures. The Clouser lawsuit alleges Dr. Yuan skipped or inadequately performed this step, leaving her with sharp, uneven bone ridges that made her dentures painful and non-functional.

Can I still be a patient at Aspen Dental Ankeny? 

As of the publication of this article, no license suspension has been ordered against Dr. Yuan. The board hearing is scheduled for September 11, 2026. Patients seeking dental care at that location should be aware of the pending charges and may wish to ask questions about the treating dentist before proceeding.

What is CareCredit and what does the lawsuit say about it? 

CareCredit is a third-party healthcare financing service that dental offices often offer to patients. The Clouser lawsuit alleges Aspen Dental staff set up a CareCredit account for her to pay for procedures that she says were performed negligently — and that the account carried a 19.90% interest rate, increasing the financial harm she suffered.

How do I file a complaint against an Iowa dentist?

 Complaints against Iowa-licensed dentists can be filed with the Iowa Dental Board through the Iowa Department of Public Health. You can find complaint forms and contact information at idph.iowa.gov.

What damages is Linda Clouser seeking?

 The lawsuit does not specify a fixed dollar amount. In dental malpractice cases, damages typically cover costs of corrective treatment, pain and suffering, and financial losses caused by the negligence. The lawsuit alleges Clouser ultimately required reconstructive oral surgery after other dentists assessed her condition.

Sources & References

• Iowa Dental Board disciplinary records — charges filed February 9, 2026 against Dr. Steven Yuan
• Civil complaint: Clouser v. Yuan and Aspen Dental — filed April 10, 2026 in Iowa state court
• Iowa Capital Dispatch / News From The States reporting, May 8, 2026
• Iowa Dental Board contact: idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Dentistry

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The charges and allegations described are claims that have not been adjudicated. Dr. Yuan and Aspen Dental have not yet responded to the civil lawsuit, and the board hearing has not occurred. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding your particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.