I started going to Dr. Dobie four years ago for what I was told would be a treatment that would last 1-2 years at maximum. Four years later, I found myself still in treatment.
At this point in time, I was happy with the progress I had made, which I expressed to Dr. Dobie, but there were still some adjustments I was hoping to make not just cosmetically, but for the way my bite felt. Dr. Dobie began telling me that my treatment was done, and that he liked how my teeth looked, and when I expressed my front teeth looked a little prominent, front and center of my smile, and expressed other changes I was hoping for, he replied with this is how I like smiles to look. Threw me off a bit because at the end of the day, it's my smile and I have to live with it.
A few months prior to this, Dr. Dobie added attachments and rubber bands to help correct a twisted canine. This was something that I was told would be done at the beginning of my treatment, but I was fine with it either way until I didn't notice my canine moving, but two molars next to it shifted back, making my bite really awkward.
The second to last appointment I had I told Dr. Dobie I was happy with my progress, but still wanted to see some adjustments. I also said (even though I had already paid in full) that if the issue was cost because of the amount of aligners, I would be fine making another payment so we can get to where I want to be. I did get a second opinion and they did confirm that the adjustments I was hoping to get were valid and that one canine in particular was still pretty rotated.
I had an appointment yesterday, 4/16/24, where I was told by Dr. Dobie at my previous appointment two weeks prior, that we were going to remove the bands and buttons. When I arrived, I was told I was getting a retainer, I was done with treatment, and I was given a form to sign.
I was not surprised because I felt like I was being pushed to end treatment for a while, but expressed I still wanted to make some minor adjustments. Dr. Dobie came in to remove my buttons with some tool, and then told me he was going to sand the remaining bit down. I must have sat in the chair for 20 minutes getting what I thought were my buttons sanded down. I had expressed pain multiple times during this process, but the heavy sanding continued. Dr. Dobie then had someone scan my teeth and said he would be in touch via email. He did not tell me whether or not he would continue to help with my treatment.
When I got home that morning and went to drink water, I had pain all over my mouth. I figured my teeth were sensitive from having the buttons removed. I tried to eat a bit later and had worse pain. I felt my teeth with my tongue and noticed that the outsides of my teeth (what you would see if I smiled) were completely flat. My canines and first two molars were sanded almost completely flat, and the tops of my teeth were sanded downas well in both my top and bottom teeth. I looked in the mirror and the shapes of my teeth, especially my canines, were drastically different. I could not believe what I saw. I wasn't told, or asked if my teeth could be shaved. I called the office that afternoon in tears and spoke to Deb, the manager, who repeatedly asked me if I was sure because this is so unlike Dr. Dobie, he's such a great guy, he would never do this. Not sure what to tell Deb, but it is what happened. I told her she can compare the way my teeth look now to the photos they took a few weeks prior and the difference would be obvious. At the end of the conversation she said she would call me back, and as of end of day today, I have still heard nothing.
My mouth is in extreme discomfort, I am guessing because he sanded my teeth down, I have permanent enamel loss and have an appointment with my dentist to confirm. Again, not entirely sure if that is the case, it's just my assumption based on the fact that my teeth were grinded down and now there's a lot of discomfort. Regardless, the appearance of my teeth and their shape is so different that I didn't even want to look at my mouth in the mirror.
I have no idea why this was done, because the only filing that he has done prior was between my teeth to make space for movement. Why the outsides of my teeth were sanded completely flat is not only negligent, but wrong. I didn't give consent, and I wasn't told. This feels insanely retaliatory based on the entirety of my experiences, and I am so disappointed at how I have been treated as a patient who has been kind and has even offered MORE money when I already paid for my treatment in full.
I would NOT recommend seeing an orthodontist who so brazenly alters a patient's mouth cosmetically as a means to end their treatment. I would NOT recommend going to an office where the manager tells you there is no way something happened when it did. read more
