Transition
Dr. Ostwald sold his practice to Dr. Abhilasha Bal in November 2024 and has stopped practicing general dentistry as of March 2025 after a career spanning over 40 years. Please find below letters from Dr. Ostwald and Dr. Bal addressed to patients of the practice.
Letter from Dr. Ostwald
Dear Patients and Friends,
After negotiating the unexpected need to move A People Oriented Dental Practice to a new location over a year ago, I feel fortunate to have been able to provide you uninterrupted care since that move.
Now I am asked daily “if and when” I am going to retire. The answer to “if” is yes, the answer to “when” is now becoming clear. I knew I was not yet ready at the time of the move, because I did not have time to develop a well-considered way to properly transfer the care of my loyal patients to a care provider I trust.
It has always been my primary goal to provide excellent treatment and care appropriate to your individual needs. I truly hope I have succeeded in accomplishing that objective.
The practice of dentistry and my time with you has taught me so much and has helped me grow into the person I have become. Now I must begin to taper my responsibilities, take care of my myself, and pursue other endeavors, yet unknown.
I began having discussions with Dr. Abhilasha Bal beginning several years ago. As the timing has become right and we have been getting to know each other better, I am convinced that she is the right person to ultimately take over your care. Together we have planned a transition of care over several months, beginning in October and ending early next year.
For the continuity of your care, the enhancement of Dr. Bal’s practice, and for my future, I hope you can join us in this transitional journey.
Dr. Bal is well trained, has years of experience, has high personal integrity and most importantly is People Oriented.
Respectfully,
Dr. Ostwald
Letter from Dr. Bal
Dear Patients,
My name is Dr. Abhilasha Bal and as Dr. Ostwald has communicated to you, I have taken over his practice in early November. I would love to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and the new name of our practice – Studio 32 Dentistry – so that you can begin getting to know me.
I graduated from UCSF with a DDS degree in 2019 and have been practicing in San Francisco since then. Before that, I trained and practiced as a dentist in India, earning a Master’s degree in the subject of Prosthodontics, so my practice in this field stretches over 14 years. I was drawn to dentistry because it is a perfect combination of being able to help people and doing something that is artistic, which is something I am very passionate about.
When I first moved to San Francisco in 2015, it was me, my husband and our dog and we moved into a place in Lower Pacific Heights. We stayed in that neighborhood for over five years until a growing family necessitated a move to Noe Valley. We now have two kids (4.5 and 2 years old) and love Noe but still find ourselves coming back to Lower Pacific Heights regularly to visit some of our favorite businesses and people. So, I’m very excited about the opportunity to reconnect with the neighborhood as a result of this transition!
I have known Dr. Ostwald for 4 years and I strongly believe our dental philosophies are closely aligned. On the practice side, we operate a patient-focused experience with the goal to give you all the information you need to make an educated decision on your treatment. From the educational side, we believe in continued learning – dentistry is continually advancing and our treatment methodologies must evolve with it to make sure we are giving you the best service.
Dr. Ostwald has been practicing dentistry in this community for over 40 years and has worked diligently and gracefully to earn and maintain your trust. I know to continue his legacy of caring and excellence that I must show you, rather than tell you, why you should trust me as much as you trust him. I’m confident that I will deliver on this and continue to help you on your journey to maintain and improve your dental health.
If I haven’t already, I cannot wait to meet you. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Dr. Abhilasha Bal