Plattsburgh dentists brings Polish touch

PLATTSBURGH | Maria Szmigiel, owner of Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, has fond memories of going to work with her father in Montreal and watching procedures over his shoulder. From the age of 13, she worked under him as a dental assistant. "He's still working," she said, a smile spreading across her face. Szmigiel's father has a dental practice in Montreal, but now it's her in a white doctor's coat with a practice of her own. Gentle Touch Family Dentistry recently moved from Hammond Lane to Smithfield Boulevard, and an open house of the new facility is planned for Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m. Szmigiel and her father aren't the only dentists in the family — her aunt, uncle and grandmother were all dentists, she said. "We have a lot of dentists in the family." Her family immigrated to Canada from Poland. Both her father and her mother, a lawyer, had to be re-certified to continue their careers in a new country. She was inspired by that perseverance and drive. When she was older, Szmigiel left Canada to attend college in the United States at Boston University. After she'd learned English — her third language — she practiced dentistry in Ausable Forks for a few months before landing in Plattsburgh. Szmigiel opened her first private practice on Hammond Lane nearly a decade ago. She knew that her business was growing and they'd need to expand, but though her old office had served her well, there wasn't enough space to grow. The move to Smithfield Boulevard, to a building that formerly housed Blockbuster Video, came after a full year of planning and design work. "I remember driving by Blockbuster and thinking it was a great location, but I never thought that's where we'd be," she said. When Blockbuster went out of business, the building lie dormant for many years, she said, until she and her husband finally pulled the trigger on the move earlier this year. The result is a sleek, modern-looking dental practice across from the Champlain Centre Mall. The exterior has been newly remodeled — where once passersby could see remnants of the iconic blue awning of the former video rental chain, a new sign is hung, colorful and welcoming. Opening the doors to the practice, the building's origins are nowhere to be found, instead replaced with a pristine waiting area and segmented treatment facilities. Her overall goal in designing this space was to create an atmosphere that reflects her business' commitment to making the patient feel comfortable and at ease. And there are some domestic aspects to the space that lend it that feel — in the waiting area, photos of the Gentle Touch team are seen much like in someone's home. "We treat every patient as family," she said. The practice is now expanded from five rooms to eight and boasts a variety of features aimed at making the patient's visit more relaxing — including sedation stations and televisions equipped with Netflix. "We tried to come up with new ways for this (facility) to be comfortable for patients," she said. Szmigiel spoke passionately about both her practice and dentistry in general, noting that there are aspects of the job akin to artistry. "I really enjoy what I do," she said. "I like designing smiles." She even took an advanced course in porcelain reconstruction — a functional, more aesthetically pleasing option to silver fillings. "Some people come in here and they're nervous. They haven't been to a dentist in a while. "But we're approachable. We can transform your life," she said. "I speak to my patients and learn what they want and give them options." Gentle Touch Family Dentistry is always accepting new patients, and the staff have experience treating everyone from 2 year olds to 102 year olds. "I love my team. I work with a great group of ladies. They go above and beyond and I think that's what makes us so strong."

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Plattsburgh dentists brings Polish touch

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