In April 2007, my son started orthodontic treatment with Dr. Shelley Tretter, DMD, MS, Inc. My husband, Kevin was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008, so we had a difficult time paying the second portion of our balance due. My father took over payments, but passed away in 2009. Even though it was the end of our son's treatment, Dr. Tretter required full payment to remove my son's braces. We continued making small payments that we could afford, but it was difficult with our enormous hospital bills, and we still owed an additional $1000. In 2011, Kevin was diagnosed again with cancer, but this time terminal cancer, which had spread. We informed the office of Dr. Shelley Tretter, of our family's health and financial situation, but we were still required to pay the last $1000 before our son's braces were removed. 2012 had been five years since our son started receiving orthodontic treatment, and he still had braces on his teeth. Two months before Kevin passed away, he took our son to his last appointment. Kevin told Dr. Shelley Tretter that his last wish before he passed away, was to have our son's braces removed. Dr. Tretter told him that he needed to sign a release form stating that she is not responsible for our son's teeth moving after his braces are removed. Soon after Kevin's death, I paid the final $1000 for my son's treatment. I called Dr. Shelley Tretter and asked her why our son did not receive his retainer yet and she told me that my son's father, (who had terminal cancer at the time), signed a release form and they were not responsible after that. She also stated that our son did not take care of his teeth and wearing a retainer would damage them even more, which was not spoke of in the five years that our son had his braces on. Only that he needed to brush more often. I took him to the dentist which was reaffirmed that this was not true. My son's gums were healthy and only more brushing and flossing were needed. There were no signs of gum disease or tooth decay, as Dr. Shelley Tretter had tried convincing us. My son was 18 and never had a cavity in his life. When we went into the office to talk about a retainer again, Dr. Tretter belittled my son and humiliated him, trying to convince us that he had very bad oral health and it was his fault that he could not get a retainer. We paid over $6000 for his treatment and his teeth have completely moved. His braces once expanded his jaw and straightened his teeth, but have all reversed. His jaw is now worse than before. My son is 21 and is devastated over this situation. He is very self-conscious about his teeth and Jaw, and has a very low self-image. I am so disappointed in Dr. Shelley Tretter in how she treated my whole family. read more
