Roots Run Deep for Elgin Family Dental

Bite-Sized Legacy Approaches 50 Years

In recent years, intimate, small-practice dentists have increasingly become a thing of the past, gobbled up by larger firms. The result has been a disconnect between patient and dentist, leading to atmospheres that aren’t always the most focused on building lasting relationships.

Elgin Family Dental, located at 306 North Highway 95 in Elgin, TX, is an exception. Operating in Elgin since 1977, when Dr. Carl Herring founded the practice, it’s now run by his son, Dr. Scott Herring, who’s continued his father’s business in the city where he grew up. Along with his wife, Jennifer, an administrator and dental hygienist for the practice, Herring and his small team are immensely proud of their nearly 50 years of servicing the Elgin community.

“It’s getting rarer to see that kind of thing nowadays, especially in dentistry,” Herring said. “It’s trending in the opposite corporate direction, so we definitely take pride in being a small family office. Families appreciate that also. We try to treat them like family.”

Emphasis on Family

Herring received his undergraduate degree from Southwestern University and, in 2005, graduated cum laude from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Upon graduation, he joined his dad’s practice, working side by side until Dr. Carl Herring retired in 2020. His mother, Deborah, also served in a key administrative role.

As owner, Herring has remained committed to treating his patients like extensions of his own family.

“That definitely separates Elgin Family Dental,” Herring said. “Many patients tell me they see a different dentist every time at other practices, never seeing the same person again. I think they appreciate that they will always see me because I’m the only dentist here. We treat them well, like our own family, and if you do that, everything else takes care of itself.”

Herring’s clientele is a mixed variety. In some cases, he’s taken over dental work for folks treated by his dad for years and even decades. On the other hand, as Elgin attracts a wealth of new residents and families, Herring has no shortage of new faces he relishes getting familiar with.

“We definitely have people who have been coming since even before I started,” Herring said. “Elgin is growing quickly, so we love seeing many new patients we don’t know yet. It’s really a mix: we’ve got longtime patients who saw my dad, and there are all these new faces. Having grown up here, I still see people I went to school with, or former teachers, which is pretty neat, too.”

Proud Part of the Community

As an Elgin native, Herring values maintaining a strong community presence. Since the 1980s, Elgin Family Dental has sponsored a local Little League baseball team, with Herring personally involved in coaching. Herring is also proud to hire out of Elgin’s backyard, filling his practice with others from the community. As Elgin grows, Herring and his staff are excited to continue a strong legacy of dependable, intimate and friendly dental services.

“We have a great team, most of whom are local to Elgin,” Herring said. “You can’t do everything yourself, so it definitely helps to have a talented team."

“I grew up here and want to see Elgin thrive and do well,” said Herring. “Having good businesses for people in Elgin and not having to travel to Austin for dental care, we take pride in that.”

Visit Elgin Family Dental for more information or to schedule an appointment. Contact the Elgin Economic Development Corporation to read about more local small business success stories.