After over a year of braces (the last few months changing nothing), Dr. Hesker gave me a clear retainer for my top teeth but chose NOT to offer this option for my bottom teeth — instead, he cement-glued a small, LIMP metal chain as a "permanent retainer" intended to last for the rest of my life. But alas! The chain fell off after several weeks, and I returned to have it fixed, only to have it fall off again a few weeks later; this process repeated multiple times thereafter. At some point, it became obvious that my teeth were no longer straight — my problem was crowding — and Dr. Hesker (blaming ME for eating apples with the permanent retainer — certainly I am not expected to avoid apples for the rest of my life?!) suggested another round of braces for my bottom teeth, where my family was to pay a certain, fixed amount up front to cover the whole process, which would last until "I was satisfied with my teeth." Dr. Hesker proceeded to fix my teeth for a few months, then declared that the process was over and my teeth were fixed again!... though they were not, and it does not take an orthodontist to observe their crookedness! I voiced my concern at a cluster of teeth that remained overlapping and crooked, and Dr. Hesker responded by pulling out a metal tool and SHAVING away at a crooked tooth, as if that would fix the problem. (Shockingly, it did not.) Even though I was not happy with my teeth, Dr. Hesker removed the braces and charged my family for multiple expensive retainers. I continue to wear the retainers every night, yet my teeth are not straight because he did not fix them to begin with. I am certain that if Dr. Hesker had NOT promised an established price for the second round of braces (which surely we did not even fulfill in such a short duration), he would have stretched the process much longer — like the first round — but perhaps, at least, my teeth would be fixed. Overall, however, the root source of the problem remains that Dr. Hesker was somehow convinced (or presumed he could convince my trusting family) that a limp metal chain would hold my teeth in shape after the first round of braces. I have never met an orthodontist who uses the type of "retainer" that he did — although I am unsure whether Dr. Hesker is a certified orthodontist....