New dental practice opens in Norwalk

NORWALK — Dr. Stacy Mackert starts a new dental practice at Mackert Family Dental. After the former owner of the practice, Dr. Julie Roberts recently retired, Mackert took over her spot and has started running her own practice in Norwalk at 107 W. Main St. "Back in June, Julie's broker reached out to my husband, who's also a dentist, and told us that she was looking to retire," Mackert said. "So we talked about what kind of procedures and style she did and it just seemed like we were very similar," Mackert said. "Then when we met in person, (and) it really confirmed it. It was a lot of paperwork with the bank for the last few months, but we got everything closed on Oct. 27, and I was able to start working on the first." Mackert said both the staff and patients have both been welcoming. "The staff that's been here, they're very seasoned staff members, they know the patients really well," Mackert said. "They've helped the transition immensely, and I feel like it's helping the patients see all these familiar faces given that there's a new dentist in town. They have just been super on top of it. From a patient standpoint, everything has been seamless, so I am very happy." Mackert is originally from New York but decided to transition into something less fast-paced and moved to Westlake four years ago with her husband. "When Norwalk came on the docket, my husband was skeptical because it's a farther drive, but I wanted something more Midwest and less of a hectic city environment, so it's been a great fit," Mackert said. This is the first time Mackert is running her own practice "For the last few years, I was an associate dentist, so it was very patient-focused: just do my job and go home," Mackert said. "But now with adding the business aspects to everything, it definitely presents a new challenge. But I feel like I'm ready for it, and we've been working with it. I was getting a little too comfortable just doing dentistry, so this is a fun new challenge." In terms of patient care, Mackert said she prefers a gentle approach and always prioritizes making a patient feel comfortable. "I love seeing kids, so if anyone has nervous children feel free to bring them in and introduce us," Mackert said. "We do practice a lot of very gentle dentistry, to help anyone who is very nervous. This is a place where we'll make sure or we'll try and make sure you don't even feel the needle. I like to say I cater to cowards." People can visit Mackert's practice website, mackertfamilydental.com, for more information.