Achi news desk-
An orthodontic clinic in Quispamsis, NB has been “temporarily” closed until April 2nd. But two days later, Dr. John Sherrard’s office was permanently closed and it is still unclear why.
Jennifer McInnis was a patient at the clinic. She won a competition for Invisalign treatment, paid for by the clinic.
Braces were something she always wanted, but they weren’t financially possible. McInnis heard about the closing through messages people sent her.
“(They said) it’s closed, like closed permanently, and … I haven’t heard anything about anything,” she said in an interview Thursday. “They didn’t contact me at all, there was no phone call, no email, no direct message from them.”
She reached out to McKenzie Orthodontics, which accepts Sherrard’s patients, but said the financial aspect of her treatment is still unclear.
“They’ll be talking about financial stuff when I’m there, so right now I have no idea what I’m looking at for that,” McInnis said. “So it’s stressful.”
Her sister is also a patient, who paid out of pocket, she explained, and in advance. McInnis said she feels especially bad for those patients, considering how expensive orthodontics can be.
“So, a lot of questions but so far no answers from anyone,” she said. “If he doesn’t talk to us directly, who will?”
Sherrard Orthodontics was an orthodontic clinic that was an Invisalign Diamond+ provider, according to its Facebook page which has not been updated since the closure.
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The website reads: “Unfortunately, after much consideration, we intend to end our practice in an orderly manner and we would like to sincerely thank the local community and our patients for their support in reaching this difficult decision.”
“After the decision was made that we would not be able to reopen the office, we immediately reached out to the NB Dental Association to work on the logistics of ensuring our patients transition to the orthodontist of their choice,” its website said. goes on to say.
“While these plans are being developed, please know that we are monitoring emergency voicemails and will contact each of our patients to discuss transferring their patient records as soon as we are able to do so.”
Dr. Sherrard did not respond to telephone or personal attempts to contact him Thursday.
However, an update published in April said “Following guidance from the NB Dental Association, we would like to assure all patients that your records are kept securely and can be transferred to the orthodontist of your choice as detailed below.”
It left directions on how to contact two different orthodontists in the area who are accepting patients.
“We understand and appreciate that your ongoing care cannot be delayed, but unfortunately, staffing remains an issue in the industry and no single local office can accommodate all patients,” the update read.
It also said it has requested a “cease of all scheduled payments and has not activated any payments since our initial temporary closure at the end of March, but we recommend that you contact your banking institution to ensure that such payments are not made in error.”
It referred patients to two other orthodontic clinics that would receive records and people needing treatment.
The New Brunswick Dental Association said in an emailed statement that it does not know much about the reason for the clinic’s closure, other than what is posted on its website, and is “currently awaiting (Sherrard’s) plan regarding the transfer of patient records to other health care providers.”
Paul Blanchard, the company’s CEO, said it had written communication with Dr. Sherrard.
“We expect Dr. Sherrard to provide a plan for the continued treatment of his patents, which will need to be coordinated with other dentists in the area,” he said in a statement. “According to our regulations, there is an obligation to transfer patients’ dental records in a timely manner.”
NBDS has no authority in financial matters between patients and dentists.
Two orthodontists, All Smiles Orthodontics and McKenzie Orthodontics, posted on social media that they were taking Sherrard’s patients.
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