Dentistry for the Whole Family
Located in Granger, Ind., 32 Pearls Family Dentistry truly lives up to its name. From the waiting area to the back of the practice, Avis Barker, DMD, designed every aspect of her five-operatory, 2,500-square-foot practice with families in mind.
In the waiting area, a kids-only nook puts children at ease, without making adult patients feel like they're in a pediatric office. Two entry doors to the operatories in the back of the practice — a standard door for adults and a smaller door just for children — make every patient feel at home. Dr. Barker's warm personality also contributes to the welcoming atmosphere at 32 Pearls. "She has a smile that can light up a room," said Equipment Specialist John Link
Taking charge
In 2007, Dr. Barker joined a pediatric dental center immediately after graduating from dental school. There she met Luke Matz, who was the Patterson sales representative for the practice she was working for. Matz discussed different options with Dr. Barker about opening her own practice. "I explained to her the potential for starting out young and encouraged her to do it while the economy was down and building costs were lower," said Matz.
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In the spring of 2010, Dr. Barker's employer forced her to make a difficult decision between working at one of its other locations with a much longer commute or cutting back to part-time at the current location. With a young son at home, Dr. Barker knew that neither option would be the right choice for her family. However, practice ownership would allow her to take charge of her location and hours.
After making the decision to go solo, Dr. Barker turned to Matz for his support and expertise. He introduced Dr. Barker to Link, who worked with her to find the best and most affordable location for her new practice. They conducted market research and toured more than 25 different locations in the Granger area, but Dr. Barker was discouraged by the high rental prices. She found one location in a strip mall that she liked; however, she felt a little uneasy with the price and held off on signing a lease.
She was driving through Granger one day when she spotted a vacancy in a strip mall just off a busy intersection. She toured the space, which was previously a bar, and found it to be ideal for her dental practice. The building's owner was equally excited to have a reputable dental professional in the building and offered her a great deal on the lease. She signed it immediately.
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