Isabella Terrassa

Just like everything else in the world, your dental visit is bound to look a little different in the post-pandemic climate! Our team is proud of the measures we’ve implemented to keep our staff and patients safe. You might be wondering - what exactly can I expect from my visit now? Let’s walk through some common questions about our typical hygiene appointment!

• What do I need to do to prepare?

• Expect a text from us 2 hours in advance - this will include a link to a brief COVID screening questionnaire that we’ll need before we get your visit started
• Bring a mask - this is a requirement in the common areas of our building and our practice!
• Please don’t bring family or friends with you unless you specifically need a caretaker or guardian present so we can minimize people in the reception area at any given time

• Where can I wait? 

• Once you arrive, you can enter our waiting area to check in OR text us to let us know you’re out in the hall; our provider will come and get you from wherever you prefer to wait!

• What’s different once I’m in the room?

• We’ll start by taking your temperature as an additional screening measure
• You’ll notice new air purifiers in each room 
• Providers may be wearing additional masks, gowns, and face shields based the type of cleaning being performed
• You may get to experience Dry Shield, a technology we acquired just before the shutdown that dramatically reduces the release of aerosols during the procedure, keeping you and our staff safer!

• Do I have to interact with more people on the way out?

• If you want to skip check out altogether, fill out our Credit Card Authorization Form and Update Form before your visit to avoid the front desk!

If you have any questions prior to your visit, please don’t hesitate to call us. We look forward to seeing everyone back in soon!

What Strobel Dentistry is Doing to Keep Patients and Staff Safe

April 27th, 2020

Last week we released a video message by Dr. Dan, to check in on everyone (we miss our patients!!) and provide an update on how we’re using this time to create the safest dental experience in the area. Here’s the video link in case you missed it:

https://youtu.be/FJ7jtCYstLA

In it we mention a possible re-open date of May 26 - Governor Pritzker has since extended the stay at home order, so we are now planning on June 1st. While we wait and work toward this re-imagined space, we wanted to give you more insight into exactly what we’re implementing!

Dry Shield

• All-in-one superior isolation system: high-suction evacuator, bite block, tongue shield and oral pathway protector
• Reduces aerosols in the dental operatory keep staff safe and operatory sterile 
• Increased patient comfort over the more traditional isolation methods listed above

Hyrdim Instrument Washer L110W

• This instrument dishwasher cleans off any debris or bacteria from instruments and burs with maximum efficiency prior to sterilization.
• Reduces time spent by staff scrubbing instruments, freeing up that time for other sanitization/safety procedures
• Minimizes the risk of a sharps accident and dramatically reduces the possibility of user error in the cleaning process

Sterasil Water Filtration

• 2 tanks: One that has distilled water for our sterilization (autoclave and instrument washer), and one with purified, distilled water for use in the operatories.
• Eliminate the need for staff to manually flush lines or use purification tablets, freeing up employee time and reducing user error
• EPA registered dental water is automatically monitored, contains no iodine or chlorine, and is the safest for both patients and dental equipment

AirDoctor Air Filtration Units

• Ultra-HEPA Medical grade air filtration units in each operatory to filter out viruses and bacteria.
• Reduces risk of airborne cross contamination among patients and staff
• Allows our team to sterilize rooms more efficiently and safely than ever before

We are continuing to stay abreast of all governmental and industry guidance in regards to protecting ourselves and our patients from COVID-19 and other viruses. As we continue to refine our safety protocols, we’ll post updates here. We hope this finds you all healthy and safe!

Strobel Dentistry is Open for Your Dental Emergency

March 20th, 2020

Dear friends,

Though we have closed our office to regular business in accordance with state, federal, and CDC guidelines, we are still your healthcare providers and we take that responsibility very seriously.

Our admin team is monitoring email, messages, and texts round the clock, and you can also reach either doctor on their cell in the event of a dental emergency. Please call us before going to the emergency room for dental pain of any kind.

We can help assess the issue, see you in our office if warranted, or refer you to the best source of care. Both Dr. Isabella and Dr. Dan are available to address concerns via teleconferencing as well.

In this uncertain and frightening time, please know that we are here to help you if you need us. We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy!

Warmly,

The Staff at Strobel Dentistry

We’re Expanding!!!

March 10th, 2020

It’s been a long time coming, so we are EXTRA stoked to finally announce that Strobel Dentistry will be expanding into the suite next door! Since this is brand new, we don’t have all the details yet, but here’s a rough timeline:

• Immediately: We welcome the patients of Chicago Dental Smiles! The first step in our expansion was acquiring the practice next door, as Dr. Joshi had made the difficult decision to consolidate his practice to the suburbs. We’ll miss our neighbor but are SO excited to have this chance to help more members of our community.
• Early April: Construction begins! As soon as we have our ducks in a row, we’ll begin executing our vision for our updated space. Thankfully we can remain open for our patients during almost all of this construction, so this time should have very little impact on our ability to provide quality dental care.
• Mid July - Close for a Few Days. Since our ultimate goal involves some reorganization as we expand, it’s likely we will need to close for a few days to finish the transition. We will of course aim to keep this to a minimum and let you know as soon as we have a definitive timeline. Our team is planning to spend this time refining our skills and knowledge at a Seminar in Scottsdale. Can’t beat Arizona in July! 
• By the end of summer: a new and improved space! Our end result will include the following enhancements to improve our patient care:
  • Two new operatories for expanded treatment (including hopefully more specialist days on site!)
  • A brand new lab for fabricating in-house appliances in addition to our dedicated sterilization area
  • An expanded, comfortable reception area for patients to sit before their appointments begin
  • Dedicated, private spaces for patients to discuss potential treatment with one of our Patient Care Coordinators

We’ll keep you all posted as our plans progress! Thank you as always for being a part of our journey and growth!

Celebrating 88 Years of Practice in 2020!

December 30th, 2019

It’s time for our yearly reflection, and here at Strobel Dentistry our hearts could not be more full with all we’ve experienced this year and everything we have to look forward to in the decade to come! A few highlights:

Dr. Isabella got engaged! We could not be more thrilled for her and her fiance Tony to take this next step (and keep needling her for invites to the stunning wedding she’s planning in Colombia ;)).

Bridget, our newest hygienist, tied the knot in October in a beautiful ceremony that they followed up with a 2 week European honeymoon. 

Our hygienist Aer is expecting her second baby in May! The team is really going to miss her when she’s on leave May through August, but we expect to make up for it with adorable baby snuggles.

New tech! Could we let a year go by without celebrating this?? Of course not!   Our latest addition - the 3D printer - is fitting in nicely, and our rockstar assistant Mika is working hard to integrate it seamlessly into our daily services.

2019 also saw the expansion of our in-house services: on-site night guards, complex extractions courtesy of the itinerant specialist Dr. Sam, and expanded hours for our periodontist, to name a few. 2020 promises more enhancements and improvements to keep our patients’ experience with us phenomenal!

Thank you to all our patients, friends, family, colleagues - everyone who has touched our lives and allowed us to help improve the oral health of our community members. We wish everyone a happy, healthy new year and great things in this new decade!

3D Printing: Our Newest Bit of Digital Dentistry

December 16th, 2019

What is 3D printing?

Very simply, a printer puts out layer after layer of thin material to build up a three dimensional object. This is often called additive manufacturing, in contrast to the “subtractive” manufacturing or milling done for our same day crowns. Instead of removing material to create an object (i.e. crown or onlay), the appropriate type of liquid resin is applied in thin layers and then cured to create the appliance or restoration needed.

3D printing has been around since the 80s and 90s, but the term and its use has recently seen a big upswing. The machines themselves are quite simple, and wouldn’t be much without the sophisticated design software that allows our dentists to design restorations, appliances and guides from start to finish in a virtual environment. At Strobel, we use iTero, Dentsply Sirona, and SureSmile software, among others!

How is 3D printing used in Dentistry?

As the technology continues to develop, the possibilities are pretty much endless! Right now, considering what will maximize resources, time, and benefit to the patient, we will be printing:

• hard night guards
• Retainers
• surgical guides for implants. 
• In the near future, express orthodontics cases!

Why is 3D printing any better than traditional methods?

When evaluating any product, the most common considerations are quality, time, and cost. Bringing the manufacturing of these appliances gives us heightened control over the output, allowing us to better meet individual needs. Longer term, as we continue to integrate the technology into our practice, it will result in a considerable time and cost savings that we can pass on to our patients.

Dental fillings without pain or anesthetic??

January 30th, 2018

What is the Solea laser?

Solea is the first CO2 dental laser system cleared by the FDA for hard, soft and osseous tissue procedures. It allows the vast majority of procedures to be done in less time without pain (and thus without needles and anesthesia!).

How does Solea work?

This is the really cool part. The specialized wavelength of light energy supplied by the CO2 Solea Laser vaporizes four different “photoreceptors:” hydroxyapatite, water, collagen, and plastic. It basically makes the tissue disappear! Meanwhile it overwhelms our nerves’ ability to sense pain, allowing decay and unwanted tissue to be removed quickly and without anesthesia. This energy is “pulsed” and expertly controlled by our dentists via foot pedal, guaranteeing precision and predictable results.

Are there any side effects with Solea?

You’ll feel none of the lingering numbness that you would after a traditional procedure, but just like a normal dental restoration there may be some residual soreness. During treatment you should feel no pain; our patients have reported cold sensitivity and mild pressure during use, but an overwhelming majority felt nothing else!

For what procedures can the Solea laser be used?

There are many procedures that can benefit from the use of this laser, from dental fillings to oral surgery. Some examples:

• Direct Fillings
• Frenectomies
• Gingivectomies
• Apthous Ulcer Treatments
• Fibroma Removal
• Crown Lengthening / Bone Removal
• Implant Uncovering

Solea is not currently indicated for use in endodontic procedures and amalgam removals. The procedures we’ll use the laser for in our office will vary from case to case, but we expect to use it more and more as the technology continues to grow.

There are only 600 of these in the world as of January 2018, and only 2 in Chicago!! We’re so stoked to be in on the ground floor of this exciting advance in dentistry. Call us today to see if this treatment is right for you!