If you’ve seen a social media advertisement offering “free” dental implants, “no-cost” implant grants, or payments to patients willing to receive implants in our name — please know these promotions are fraudulent. Southern Oaks Family Dental Care is not affiliated with any such ads, offers, or programs, and we are actively working to alert our community to this deceptive practice targeting Baton Rouge residents and patients across Louisiana.
Southern Oaks Family Dental Care has served Baton Rouge families since 2017 under the leadership of Dr. Cody Cowen, a Louisiana native who earned his undergraduate degree from LSU-Baton Rouge and his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from LSU School of Dentistry. Our team of experienced dentists — including Dr. Kenny Oswald and Dr. Norris — provides comprehensive general, cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry grounded in honest recommendations and transparent pricing. Protecting our patients from misleading advertising is part of that commitment.
Our Position on These Fraudulent Advertisements
We’ve been contacted by several individuals over the past few months who saw social media ads claiming Southern Oaks Family Dental Care was offering free or trial implants. These ads are not ours. We did not authorize them, do not profit from them, and have no involvement whatsoever in the campaigns that misuse our practice name. We find this deceptive behavior troubling — not only because it exploits our reputation, but because it targets patients who genuinely need dental care and may be vulnerable to false hope.
“When a patient calls expecting something we never offered, it’s upsetting for everyone involved — for them because their hopes have been raised unfairly, and for us because our name is being used to mislead good people,” Dr. Cowen shares. “Our practice has been built on honesty and transparent communication. We would never advertise something we cannot deliver.”
Understanding the Dental Implant Scam
Dental implant scams have grown increasingly common, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Scammers produce polished ads and professional-looking websites that falsely promote dental implant “grants,” clinical trials, or free-procedure programs. Patients who respond are often directed to legitimate dental offices — ours included — creating confusion when those offices have no knowledge of the promotion.
Some scammers take their deception further by calling patients who submitted contact information, describing “guaranteed” grant approval, and requesting payment for processing fees, consultation deposits, or so-called insurance verification. Once money changes hands, the scammer disappears. The victim has lost their funds, their personal information, and often their trust in legitimate dental care providers.
Red Flags and Warning Signs to Recognize
Patients considering dental implants deserve honest, accurate information — which is why recognizing the warning signs of a scam is essential before responding to any advertisement. Common red flags include:
- Upfront Fee Requests: A legitimate grant or dental program will never ask for processing fees, deposits, or pre-payment to “secure” your spot.
- Guaranteed or Automatic Approval: Real grants are competitive and involve rigorous application requirements — never instant acceptance.
- Unsolicited Phone Calls: Scammers often contact patients who submitted information to an ad, using scripted urgency to close the deal quickly.
- Pressure to Act Immediately: High-pressure tactics claiming the offer “expires today” are designed to prevent you from verifying the offer’s legitimacy.
- Requests for Personal Financial Information: Legitimate dental practices never ask for Social Security numbers, bank routing details, or credit card numbers outside of a confirmed appointment.
- Promises That Seem Too Good to Be True: Dental implants are a specialized surgical procedure with genuine costs — free or heavily discounted offers from unknown sources are almost always fraudulent.
What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted
If you’ve responded to an advertisement using our name — or have been contacted by someone claiming to represent Southern Oaks Family Dental Care about a free implant program — please take the following steps to protect yourself. First, do not send money, share financial information, or provide additional personal details. Second, contact our office directly at (225) 307-3275 to verify whether any communication is legitimate. Third, report the fraudulent advertisement to the platform where you saw it and consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you’ve already shared financial information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to protect your accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implant Scams
Does Southern Oaks Family Dental Care offer free dental implants or implant grants? No. We do not offer free implants, trial implant programs, or dental implant grants of any kind. Any advertisement suggesting otherwise is not from our practice.
Are there any legitimate dental implant grants available? Grants specifically for dental implants are extremely rare, and most that exist cover only a small portion of treatment costs through verified nonprofit programs. Dental implants are typically classified as cosmetic or restorative care, making them ineligible for most public or federal grant programs.
What should I do if a scammer has already called me using your practice name? Hang up and do not provide any additional information. Call our office directly at (225) 307-3275 to verify the call’s authenticity, then report the incident to the FTC and the social media platform where the ad originated.
How can I verify that I’m communicating with the real Southern Oaks Family Dental Care? Our only official phone number is (225) 307-3275, our website is southernoaksfamilydental.com, and our office is located at 8670 Airline Highway, Suite A, in Baton Rouge. If a communication doesn’t match these details, it isn’t us.
Why are dental implant patients being targeted specifically? Dental implants represent a significant financial investment — often several thousand dollars per tooth — which makes prospective implant patients a valuable target for scammers offering false financial relief.
Does Southern Oaks Family Dental Care offer affordable implant options for patients without grants? Yes. We offer transparent implant pricing, accept most major insurance plans, and partner with third-party financing providers to help patients access the implant care they need through legitimate, ethical payment options.
Why Baton Rouge Patients Trust Southern Oaks Family Dental Care
- Honest Recommendations: Our dentists provide straightforward treatment plans with no hidden costs, unnecessary upsells, or deceptive promotions.
- Established Local Practice: Southern Oaks has served Baton Rouge families since 2017 with a reputation built on personalized, relationship-driven care.
- Comprehensive Implant Expertise: From single-tooth implants to All-on-4 full-arch restorations, our team delivers evidence-based implant dentistry using proven materials and protocols.
- Transparent Pricing: Every treatment plan includes a clear cost breakdown before care begins — no surprises, no pressure, no fine print.
Accredited and Reviewed: We maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and hundreds of positive patient reviews across independent platforms.
Trusted Dental Implant Care in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
If you’re considering dental implants in Baton Rouge or the surrounding East Baton Rouge Parish communities, please work only with verified, reputable providers. Southern Oaks Family Dental Care is proud to offer honest, expert implant dentistry delivered by experienced Louisiana-trained doctors who prioritize patient safety, transparency, and long-term outcomes. To schedule a consultation — or simply to verify whether an advertisement you received is authentic — please contact our office directly at (225) 307-3275. Our team will be happy to answer your questions and ensure you have accurate information to protect yourself and make confident decisions about your dental health.
