First Alert 4 Investigates: Did a local dentist put an unborn baby in harm’s way?

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - First Alert 4 Investigates has uncovered new allegations against a local dentist already under the spotlight.

The latest concern: that he put an unborn baby in harm’s way.

Now, police said they’re taking the accusations very seriously. First Alert 4 viewers said their question remains the same: Why can’t anyone take more immediate action?

“Just a scary experience. Traumatizing, to be quite honest,” said Cait Carr.

Carr said her jaw dropped when she saw the First Alert 4 Investigative Report last month about Artistic Dentistry and its owner, the only dentist there, Shea Wilson.

“Oh my goodness, that’s the dentist I saw,” she said.

In May, Jaqueline Ploudre told First Alert 4 Investigates about her experience earlier this year, in pain and having a panic attack.

“He says to me, ‘No one gives an F about your panic attack. If you didn’t serve in Iraq, no one gives an S. Chill the F out,’” said Ploudre.

She said the encounter left her mouth bleeding.

Others are telling similar stories.

“It was just bizarre, the way he spoke to his staff — the names he said in front of other patients,” Carr said.

Carr told First Alert 4 Investigates that she witnessed similar behavior in 2023.

Also in pain during an extraction, she said he pushed her back down into the chair, made humiliating remarks about her teeth to her and other patients, and made denigrating comments to his staff.

“I’m upset that it’s still happening. I don’t know how or why it’s still happening,” said Carr.

But now, perhaps the most serious allegations of all are detailed in a new police report, obtained by First Alert 4 Investigates.

On May 20, after the first story aired, a patient told police she returned to Artistic Dentistry due to extreme pain and swelling in her mouth from an earlier visit.

The report reads: “During the initial visit, she was informed that X-rays and certain medications could not be istered due to her pregnancy. Despite this, on her return visit, those precautions were not followed. An X-ray was conducted, and numbing medications were istered.”

The report further reads: “During the extraction, she described the dentist’s actions as forceful and aggressive. She cried uncontrollably and stated she was in significant pain. No suction was used to remove accumulating blood in her mouth, which caused her to gag and choke.”

The report states that the patient called 911 and was transported to the hospital, where doctors monitored her condition and that of her unborn baby. The patient told police she wants to pursue criminal charges.

“Anytime we have somebody who reports something like this to us, we have officers that investigate it,” said Lt. Jonathan McIntosh with the Creve Coeur Police Department.

McIntosh said they’ve referred the case to the municipal prosecutor, who is reviewing it and has taken the case under advisement.

“The ultimate decision on whether or not prosecution will be made is in her hands,” McIntosh said.

He noted that situations like this are rare, but he encourages anyone with information about the dentist to police or the Missouri Dental Board, which oversees dental licenses in the state.

“We have reported this case to them, and we’ve encouraged the reporting party to also report it to them,” McIntosh said.

Ploudre did file a complaint with the Dental Board.

In an email, a spokesperson told First Alert 4 Investigates: “State law doesn’t allow us to confirm if there is an investigation.”

But Ploudre provided First Alert 4 Investigates with a letter from the board confirming the complaint, stating that a review can take three to 12 months.

“I hope he’s not in business anymore,” said Carr. “It’s sick. It’s scary.”

A family member of the pregnant patient declined to speak with us at this time.

First Alert 4 Investigates also reached out to the Creve Coeur municipal prosecutor about the status of the case, but have not yet heard back.

Dr. Wilson has denied the allegations against him.

Late Wednesday afternoon, First Alert 4 Investigates spoke with two employees of the dental office — one who has worked there for one month and another since November. They both disputed the pregnant patient’s and defended the dentist’s demeanor, but declined to speak on camera or give their names.

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