Should I be an orthodontist or a lawyer?

Was my old orthodontist being honest?

• got braces Oct. of 2011. fiance is in the navy. was supposed to stay home and finish school &then get married in 3years.. which is why I thought getting braces was a good idea (braces treatment was supposed to be for 24mo). instead plans changed for personal reasons and I ended up getting married and moving to a different state a few months after I got braces. as soon as I learned that I would be moving to a new state, I called my orthodontist to explain to him the situation. I never even got the chance to speak to my orthodontist. his accountant handles all of his financial business. I wanted to pay up any loose ends that I had with my orthodontist and finish my orthodontic treatment where I was going to be living (I had four teeth molars pulled for braces so with my braces I have gaps in the very back of my mouth). Well.. the accountant prorated my bill. I agreed to make payments each month&signed a contract stating that I would. I was then informed that they were not allowed to take the braces off of my mouth until I finished paying them off, but they could fix my braces one last time for me. I was also informed that it was against the law for me to continue orthodontic treatment elsewhere while I was still paying them off. &if I went to see another orthodontist they would see the braces on my mouth and wouldn't dare work on my teeth because of the law. in my contract with my old orthodontist it does say that in case of something happening and causing me to switch to a different orthodontist to finish treatment, that they prorate my bill close my treatment with them and will aid in helping me select a new orthodontist. this is why the whole "against the law" &why they wouldn't take the braces off of my teeth confused me. so here I am four months later still with the braces on my teeth from my old orthodontist. I just paid my old orthodontist off and now will be making an appointment with the Navy's orthodontist. But I can't help but wonder.. was this fair for my old orthodontist to do to me? I just never understood why I couldn't see a new orthodontist and continue my treatment while I continued to pay my old orthodontist off which I had signed another contract stating that I would. I understand having to pay him what I owed, but was the whole "against the law to see another orthodontist..." really true? a part of me feels as if they purposely kept the braces on my teeth to ensure that I will pay them off right away.

• Answer:

  Yes they can do that but you still should be able to continue treatment somewhere else the only reason they could do that was if they had a policy about that but if they don't then they straight up lied to you