Dentist On Call

Brian Harris, D.D.S., and Steve Frost, D.D.S., opened OnCall Dental in Glendale this past July as the first urgent-care dental office in Arizona. “I went to a medical urgent care facility on a Saturday night and I walked in and walked out within 15 minutes. I got to thinking, ‘Why is there nothing like this for dentistry?’” says Dr. Harris of his inspiration. “The truth is,” he says, “dentistry is extensive and we have half of the nation’s population who does not see a dentist because it is too expensive or inconvenient. We realized there is a big need for it in the market.”

The OnCall Dental facility, open 365 days a year 24/7, is a walk-in office that handles everything from a chipped tooth to a root canal. “The reason why it is called ‘on call’ is because we take calls for other dentists in the Valley,” says Dr. Harris. “On the weekends, when their offices are closed, their phones switch over to us. We see their emergencies and take care of their clients as soon as we can, regardless if it is minor or something serious.” Unique to OnCall, the facility has several dentists on call that can immediately treat walk-in patients. In addition, the facility is well-equipped with the necessary tools for dentists to perform on-site procedures for more serious cases.

“We consider ourselves more of a partner with the dental community,” says Dr. Harris, noting the primary purpose of the urgent-care dental office is to provide patients with a higher standard of care by working with local dentists. “However,” he says, “our goal is to make quality care more convenient and affordable. Not everyone can afford dental care or find the time to make an appointment; we can bring a high value of customer service to people who need it the most for half the cost.”

Planning to strategically locate all urgent care dental offices within one mile of a freeway and within two miles of a major hospital, Drs. Harris and Frost will be opening two more locations in Tempe and Mesa by the end of 2014.