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Office Visit: Townie From Down Under Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Dentaltown Magazine

Welcome to the newest installment of Office Visit, where we visit a Townie's office and profile
his or her equipment, design or unique practice philosophy. If you would like to participate
or nominate a colleague, please e-mail tom@dentaltown.com.

This month, we went halfway around the world to visit Dr. Lincoln Harris' practice in Bargara, Queensland, Australia. He shares how he began practicing dentistry, his passion for continuing education and how interacting with his dental buddies on Dentaltown.com has changed the way he practices.
Name: Dr. Lincoln Harris
Graduate from: University of Queensland
Year graduated: 1998
Practice Name: Harris Dental Boutique
Practice Location: Bargara, Queensland, Australia
Year when this office opened: 2000
Practice Size: 1,500 square feet; two operatories and one dedicated consult room
Staff: One hygienist, two assistants, one treatment coordinator, one receptionist, part time bookkeeper/manager.
Web site: www.harrisdentalboutique.com
Dr. Harris surveys the site of his new practice
(just behind the first hole).

Office Highlights
Bonding Agents
• OptiBond Solo
• Surpass (testing in practice)

Cements
• Anchor
• GC Fuji Cem

Patient Financing
• CareCredit

 Implants
• Biomet 3i
• Nobel Biocare
• Southern Implants
• Straumann

Impression Materials
• First Quarter
• Imprint 3 Penta
• Imprint Quick Penta

 Restoratives
• GC Gradia
• VOCO Grandio

Technology
• Canon 50D
• Cerec 3D
• Isolite (testing in practice)
• Milestone SafetyWand
Click Here To View Linc's Top 5
Dr. Harris, why did you choose dentistry as your career path?
I was at school during the last financial crisis (1992). My interest was in science and I wanted something reasonably financially secure. I actually decided to do dentistry after having some fissure sealants by a local dentist, just before having to finalize my university choices.

I'm sure there are differences in dental schools and obtaining licenses when you compare Australia to the United States. What did you have to do in order to become a dentist?
In order to become a dentist, I had to start a Bachelor of Science degree and take certain pre-requisite subjects. At the end of the first year of the degree, we could apply for dentistry - entrance to which was based solely on the GPA achieved in the first year of science. So, dentistry is still an undergraduate degree in Queensland. We also only have to pay about 15-20 percent of the cost of a degree. This money is lent by the federal government. You pay four percent more tax until that loan is paid back (or at least that was the way it worked back in my day). Since the University of Queensland is accredited by the Queensland Dental Board, successful graduation allows you to immediately become registered in Queensland. There is no board exam. Australia is moving toward having federal registration, which will allow us to practice anywhere in the country. The main difference in Australia is that I graduated with only about $25,000 debt and three years earlier than North American dentists.
What is your practice philosophy? How do you cultivate this philosophy in your practice?
My philosophy is "dentistry that will make you smile." The bedrock of this is gentle painless technique, comprehensive diagnosis and patient-centered treatment. My practice started very generally and then I tried to go to the other extreme and only do large-case dentistry. I am now in a very comfortable zone blending comprehensive care with patient-focused pragmatic treatment. So while I am willing to do a full-mouth rehabilitation, if that will give the patient what he or she wants, I'm also happy to do a single filling. Keep the patient happy. My team is hugely supportive and important and we keep momentum with morning huddles, monthly meetings and having Claire Watson from Platinum Professional Development consult to our practice (www.platinumpd.com.au).

What sets your practice apart from other dental practices in your area?
Continuing education, marketing and management consulting. I can comfortably say that the amount of CE I take is far above average in our area, averaging 170 hours and three trips to the United States per year. This gives many more options to offer patients. Dentists, in general, are pretty comfortable around here, so most don't do much marketing, although that is now changing. I have taken techniques used in the U.S. and Australia and do magazine ads, letterbox drops and television advertisements.

Why is continuing education so important to you?
Partly because it keeps dentistry fresh (and gives me an excuse to get on a plane). Partly because the more you learn, the more you earn.

Since you began your career as a dentist, what is the biggest change you've seen in the profession?
I've noticed a massive change in the attitudes of patients in this area. From struggling to get people to save the occasional tooth to having people want pristine teeth for life is a very satisfying change.

What piece of technology has the biggest "wow" factor for your patients?
Umm, that's tricky. Probably, when I am showing guests around the practice, it is the CEREC. However when I'm working, I don't often really explain it to the patient - I'm in "git-'r'-done" mode. Probably the biggest wow is when you take pictures on your digital camera and show the patient (Canon 50D with 100mm Macro and Ringlight).

What is your biggest source of new patients?
How do you market to new patients? Most of my patients come from multi-stream advertising and word of mouth.

What is your favorite procedure to perform?
Probably ortho or complex restorative.

What is the most rewarding experience you've had as a dentist?
I did a couple of provisional crowns on a young patient who had a very tight budget. The teeth had huge black cavities and really spoiled an otherwise quite attractive young woman. It was rewarding because it was one of the first times I had asked a patient what her budget was and then worked within it. Since fixing her front teeth, the patient has gone on to slowly resurrect the rest of her mouth.

Who are the people on your staff and in what capacity do they function?
Gayle Reynolds - part-time office manager (transitioning) - conference organizer and marketing.
Jude McNally - treatment coordinator - helps present dental treatment to the patient and follows treatment plans and unscheduled treatment.
Rebecca James - front-office coordinator - gets people in the book, keeps them there and makes them feel welcome when they arrive.
Amy Wilson - senior back-office coordinator - my main dental assistant. Allows me to get three times as much dentistry done, keep inventory in order and organizes the back office.
Robyn Dooley - hygienist and oral health therapist - does hygiene, minor restorative and extractions on children and aids in orthodontic treatment.
Britt Nofke - clinical coordinator - helps keep everything organized out the back including the instruments and helping either myself or Robyn as necessary.
Petra - bookkeeper - comes in for a few hours on Fridays to keep things on track.
Leanne Rudd - accountant - meets me monthly to make sure our budgets, investments, business structure and capital are all shipshape.
Claire Watson - practice management consultant - visits our practice once every four months for review and training, phone consults monthly and helps keep us on track to make sure we get things done.

How has Dentaltown affected the way you practice?
Two ways: 1) It has massively increased my general dental knowledge and the success of my practice. 2) It has allowed me to network with dentists all over the world. I think I have visited about 15 or 20 Townie offices in the U.S. now.

Who are your favorite Townies on Dentaltown.com, and why?
You don't have enough room for this long list but if I had to choose one, it would be Zoey, Matt Brinks' Labrador.

What is the one thread on Dentaltown.com that you will always remember?
This one where I asked John Kanka if he knew anything about bonding. It was in my early days and I was eager to set John straight on a few points (laughs).

When you're not in the office, what do you like to do in your free time?
Take the kids to the beach. Travel. Go water skiing. Jetskiing. Coffee. Travel - did I mention that already? Be a sloth.

Tell me something that people would be surprised to know about you.
I'm a terrible procrastinator.

If you weren't a dentist, what do you think you'd be doing right now?
No idea. I am a dentist and love it.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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