Schoenrock retires, closes office: Galena’s last in-home dentist retires due to COVID regulations

GALENA–Twenty-eight years ago, Brian Schoenrock left a group dentistry in Oak Park to purchase Dr. Pope’s home practice on Buckhill Road in Galena. Now, the coronavirus pandemic has put an end to Schoenrock’s home dentistry. He’s retired after 38 years in the field.

“I was hoping to sell this practice to someone who wanted to do the same thing as I did, but now that it is a part of the home and we share the same air, you’d have to think about separating that in some way,” said Schoenrock. “Instantly the idea of a home practice dentistry became obsolete.”

Schoenrock practiced 10 years prior in Denver, Colo. and Chicago in dentist settings that he didn’t feel fit him.

“I realized I would never be happy until I did my own thing and made my own decisions,” said Schoenrock.

The practice allowed Schoenrock and his wife, Lisa, to work together doing what he loved, taking care of his patients. The Schoenrocks added on to Dr. Pope’s practice since he purchased the home and office.

Schoenrock has taken care of a lot of people during the past 28 years and due to the low overhead costs associated with running a home practice, Schoenrock was able to keep his fees low, typically 10 to 15 percent lower than other dentists in the region due to the low overhead.

Schoenrock began his practice by bringing in residents from The Galena Territory. He had an informational piece that was sent to Territory residents explaining that he was from the Chicago area originally.

Schoenrock had also been a main provider for the Hispanic community, has treated members of the Amish community and also was a provider for the artist and musician community in Galena.

“We had a very inclusive practice,” said Schoenrock. “We treated all kinds of people. Some can’t afford the Cadillac, so you have to do what you can. I have a lot of tools in the toolbox. That is something that is going to be lost forever.”

COVID-19 forced Schoenrock to make the decision to close his practice early. Schoenrock sent a letter to his patients addressing concerns and explaining the reason behind his retirement.

Schoenrock said he can’t open to the general public because he is not prepared for someone who has the virus. He’s not comfortable working with a face shield as it makes it difficult to see.

Schoenrock said the nature of dentistry and the tools forces dentists to be surrounded by aerosol particles due to high-speed instrumentation and being in close contact with saliva that is a transmitter of coronavirus. Saliva is something that is hard to see at times.

“Due to the hyper-contagious nature of this airborne pathogen, delivering dental care to patients has been categorized as an extremely high-risk activity for provider and patient alike,” stated Schoenrock’s letter.

Schoenrock’s letter also said that public health institution’s protocols are comprehensive, but also disruptive to traditional methods of treatment and procedures.

“Our modest home-based practice cannot be brought into compliance without remodeling the office, installing an independent heating/AC system, increasing staff, going paperless, installing a digital X-ray system and relearning how to treat looking through a face shield,” Schoenrock wrote in his letter.

According to Schoenrock, he is ready to retire.

“Doing dentistry is very hard,” said Schoenrock. “You are working in a very small area, the light is bad, the access is bad and the patient might be uncomfortable,” said Schoenrock. “It is very stressful at times. Sometimes you have to stick them with a needle.”

Schoenrock said the tolls of dentistry caused back and shoulder problems, but since closing the business at the start of the pandemic, Schoenrock said his body is finally healing.

The Schoenrocks have received many letters of thanks and gratitude from their patients after they announced their retirement from dentistry.

Many of the letters discuss the practice and how their experience with Schoenrock had been the best dental experience that they have had and all reflect on the friendship and relationship that he built over the past 28 years.

Schoenrock said he prided himself on having a personal touch to dentistry.

“We developed a family-like relationship with many of our patients,” said Schoenrock. “I feel sad for them, because they tell me they want to find someone like you. I don’t know if that person exists anymore due to current training.”