After working in other practices, in 2018 Dr. Aggie Iwaszczyszyn opened Hart Dental in Barrington. She was motivated to start her business because she sees “patients as people, not dollar signs. I believe in doing what is right for the patient and not what is right for the bottom line.”
SW Lake: What inspired your career choice?
Dr. Aggie Iwaszczyszyn: Honestly, because my mom is a dentist and my dad is a software engineer, I wanted something different and thought a lot about teaching. Through science classes at Lyons Township High School, the STEM field became more interesting. I realized by doing something in medicine I could help people and make a tangible difference, just like in teaching. I went to Loyola University, graduating Cum Laude with a B.S in Biology. I got my dental degree in 2016 from the College of Dentistry at University of Illinois-Chicago.
SWL: What distinguishes your practice?
Dr. Aggie: We are dedicated to listening to patients. We want their feedback every step of the way. We tend to be a friendly, talkative bunch, but some people want a calm and quiet environment. We see kids as young as 6 months old and patients in their early 100s. A lot of people are very anxious and have not seen a dentist in years. We invite them in, make them feel comfortable, and help them find their happy dental home.
SWL: Do you specialize in anything in particular?
Dr. Aggie: We are blessed to be a daughter-and-mother team. My mom, Dr. Iwona Iwaszczyszyn, is a TMJ, facial pain and headache expert. People see her from all over, even from out-of-state. We offer Bioclear, a revolutionary way to brighten a smile without shaving down any healthy tooth structure. No more veneers or crowns for healthy teeth because we are enamel superheroes!
SWL: How hard was the Covid-19 shutdown?
Dr. Aggie: We had the hardest time turning people away whose emergencies were deemed not serious enough by the authorities. Since we got the green light it has been amazing! We missed our staff and patients and are blessed to be back. We have added many more precautions to already-strict OSHA protocols, including HEPA 99.9% filters in the waiting room and each operatory, UV light sterilization at the end of the day, face shields and N95 masks. Patients wait in their car until their appointment, wear a mask inside and use a hand-sanitizing station. We give tours for anybody wanting to see the precautions we are taking during these uncertain times.
SWL: How do you spend your free time?
Dr. Aggie: Being a new entrepreneur, free time is hard to come by. Plus, I’m a newlywed! Hart Dental supports WINGS, Mission of Mercy and the Alzheimer's Association. My grandmother is battling breast cancer, so we also support Susan G. Komen and Know Your Lemons.
Learn more or schedule an appointment at HartDentalBarrington.com.