"Sometimes it takes a few words, sometimes just a smile. I'd rather fail trying to brighten your day than fail to try at all."

Dr. George Carr

Background

Washington rain to Arizona sun

Dr. Carr graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry, one of the country's top programs, in a class that ranked 2nd on one of the National Boards. That is the foundation everything since has been built on.

He traded Washington's rain for Arizona's sun and went into practice here. Over more than two decades he has worked in both corporate and private settings, and settled firmly on private — because nothing beats the personal connection of your own practice, where you actually get to know the people in the chair.

Since 2002 that practice has been in the same Tempe location on E. Southern Ave. Long enough to see his own cosmetic work still holding up fifteen years later, on the same patients, in the same room. Very few dentists get that feedback loop, and it changes how you decide what to recommend.

Beyond the practice

Where else he shows up

Every affiliation below links to the organization itself — nothing here is a badge we made ourselves.

2021–2022


Arizona Dental Foundation Board

Board service supporting dental access and education across the state.

Verify on azdentalfoundation.org↗

2024–2025

ADA Council on Ethics & Mediation Services

Contributing to the profession's ethics and dispute-resolution work.

American Dental Association↗

2020

Oral Health Literacy Advisory Board

Work on helping patients understand their own care.

​​​​​​​Arizona Dental Association↗

Ongoing

American Dental Association

Active member.
​​​​​​​
His official ADA Find-a-Dentist listing↗

Ongoing

miniDentist

A significant contributor to the patient-facing tool that puts a bit more knowledge and control in the patient's hands.
​​​​​​
See it in use↗

Alma mater

University of Washington School of Dentistry

Class ranked 2nd in the nation on one of the National Boards.
​​​​​​
dental.washington.edu↗

In the room

What patients tend to notice

Sociable, kind, and straightforward — the combination that makes people relax in a chair they were dreading, and understand what is being explained to them rather than just nodding along.

The goal is a slightly happier hour than you expected. Optimistic people smile more, which as he points out is excellent job security.

Outside the office

Nacho and Kimchi run the household

Home is his wife Maelvy, a bonus teenage daughter, and two Italian Greyhounds — Nacho and Kimchi — who are exactly as dramatic as the breed suggests.

Otherwise you might catch him hiking, at the gym, playing chess, or out with friends over a movie and some unapologetic people-watching.

Heritage, per 23andMe: Korean, French, German, British, Irish and Eastern European. A realist with a habit of talking other people into optimism.

Photo — Dr. Carr outside the office. Hiking, the dogs, or family.

Book

Come see whether the philosophy holds up.

Or send a photo first and get his read before you drive over.