Signature Smile Arts celebrated its grand opening in a ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, Nov. 16. Dr. Alex Shore showed off the renovations he’s made since taking over the practice following the retirement of Dr. David Mayer.
The renovations included new equipment and a new surgical area. The waiting area has been updated, and the office staff is working from a much larger front desk. Carpeting has been replaced with wooden floors.
“From the operational side and the physical appearance, it’s been a full renovation,” Shore said.
A photo album of before and after construction pictures was laid on the waiting room table. Homewood Village Manager Napoleon Haney flipped through it, asking Shore questions and expressing awe.
“It’s beautiful. This place has been renovated to another level,” Haney said. Signature Smile Arts is at 18114 Gottschalk Ave., just south of the Homewood post office.
Shore took pride in the technology upgrades at Signature Smile. A 3D printer was added which allows patients to see potential crowns or implants the same day rather than weeks later. All records have been converted from paper to digital. Patients can book appointments online. They can see their records and pay their bills from their computer or phone.
These updates are the future of dentistry, Shore said. He said some older staff had trouble with the conversion to everything being digital. According to Shore, younger dentists like him are learning these techniques in dental school.
“For the most part, we’re trained digital, so we stay digital,” Shore said. “A lot of us new guys come out [of dental school] and want to be that way.”
Shore said digitization allows for an “easier dental experience” for patients.
Tom Muck, a representative from Provide, the Ohio-based healthcare company that got Shore in touch with Mayer when buying his dentistry practice and assisted him with the renovations, was at the ribbon cutting.
“The transformation of a building and a practice like this is great for the community and obviously great for Dr. Shore,” Muck said.
Michael McDermott and David McDermott of the McDermott Law Group, who are patients of Shore, dropped off a box of gourmet cookies from Crumbl Cookies. Shore laughed about the irony of cookies being served at a dentist’s office.
“All things in moderation,” he said.
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld said Signature Smile Arts is “a very nice addition to the village of Homewood,” adding that Mayer “was a wonderful person with a great practice” and that Shore “will be a good successor.”
