HARRIS DENTAL
Where: 4444 N. 32nd St., Suite 208, Phoenix; 20261 E. Ocotillo Road, Suite 120, Queen Creek; 20511 N. Hayden Road, Suite 150, Scottsdale; 4540 E. Baseline Road, Mesa; 3200 S. Alma School Road, Suite 103, Chandler. Employees: 33. Details: 602-955-8600, www.harrisdental.com. Interesting stat: 80 percent of all private dentists are practice owners, according to the American Dental Association. how to speak with patients in words they understood. This contributed to his referral numbers and patient count.
“We have a tendency to lecture and that creates a lot of problems for people who are not ready to hear what we’re saying or don’t want to hear it,” Harris said. “We have to change our language when we talk to patients, so they understand we’re not trying to make them feel like they’re less than anything because they don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Years ago, the growth in patients and demand became physically exhausting for Harris and his staff. That was when he decided to open a second office, in Queen Creek.
“We were so tired, we couldn’t serve people how we wanted to. We were struggling with some of that,” Harris said.
That rationale was a factor in the most recent expansions into Mesa, Scottsdale and Chandler. He spoke with Brian, who owns half of the business, and asked what he envisioned for the practice that would one day be his.
“I knew I wouldn’t practice forever,” Harris said. “Brian wanted associates to help share the load so he could have time to spend with his family.”
Brian practices out of the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Chandler offices; Scott is at Queen Creek and Mesa. Harris’ oldest son used to work there but now teaches at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health.
“It’s awesome working with my sons,” Harris said. “We made a conscious decision to work together and we put each other first.”
Harris’ current patients in- clude some of his original ones. He also sees their children and grandchildren.
Being a dentist who owns a practice has become less common in recent years. Harris has been approached three times this year by corporations wanting to purchase his practice — a trend that has been fueled by the economy and the burden of student loans on dental-school grads. And although those who have expressed interest in buying his practice have said they can make his business more efficient, Harris isn’t buying it.
“It’s contrary to how we treat people. Decisions are made in an office somewhere else, based on what they want,” he said. “We feel people want to have that personal relationship.”
Harris’ compassion and dedication to his patients are among the reasons Ina Manaster of Phoenix has been his patient for 14 years and recommended him several times.
Manaster recalled a time when she needed her crowns replaced and was in significant pain. She phoned the office while it was closed on a Saturday. Harris returned her call, left a Diamondbacks game and opened the office to help her.
“I know of no doctor that would do that,” said Manaster. “You know that his concern is from the heart.”