Stephen Harkins, DDS

I have been dealing with TMJD since I was a child. Now, over 28 years later, and 8 specialists (along with a lot of frustration and money) later, I have found someone that is proactive, and realistic in his approach. For the first time in 28 years, my pain has decreased by 80% and my range of motion has increased as well. Dr. Harkins asked great questions, listened to my thorough and long health history, and understood that I know my body and anatomy in general very well. The staff is great, and the care is the best I have had.

Most of my experience with dental work in Tucson has been business as usual for the most part till I went to Dr. Harkins. He really pays attention to the patient and doesn’t make you feel like another number in the chair, which to me is very comforting given the uncomfortable situation that chair puts me in. Also it isn’t just a typical doctor experience, not only does he focus on the issues at hand but also gives insight into potential problems in the future of your dental issue as well the preventative measures you should take to alleviate those issues. Hats off to you sir and thank you for all you’ve done!

Dr Harkins saw me for sleep apnea. He made an oral device to hold my jaw and tongue forward. I have had it adjusted once. I have been wearing it for 6 months and my wife now sleeps without ear plugs. I also found his staff to be very friendly and the doc super knowledgeable. Can take a while to get in to see him as he is good. Thanks

I started coming to this office after dislocating my jaw due to nightly teeth grinding. Yeah, OUCH. Not only did Dr. Harkins and Dr. Maraflu fix my TMJ using nightguards (gotta love a simple, drug-​free, surgery-​free solution) but they are seriously some of the nicest doctors I’ve ever worked with. I have always felt completely respected and cared for at Dr. Harkins’ office and best of all, my TMJ is completely under control. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

I’ve been going to Dr. Harkins for over 15 years now. When I started I was in awful shape. My jaw locked open a couple times. I was in daily pain. A friend of the family knew someone who knew Dr. Harkins so even though I lived in Phoenix at the time, we made the trip to Tucson to see Dr. Harkins.
Dr. Harkins totally changed my life. He made me a mouth guard — I’m telling you, nothing beats a custom-​made mouth guard. He taught me exercises to do and what the eat and not eat. My pain went from a daily 6,7,8 to a 3,4 to often zero.
So why have I gone for 15 years? Because literally every couple years I go in for a tune-​up of the custom-​made mouth guard. I chew the hell out of the thing while I sleep but they can build it back up. It’s amazing! And I’ve also had a couple custom-​made mouth guards made over the years. As they’ve learned more about the disorder, they’ve changed how they make the mouth guards, lower vs. upper, where the bite points are, etc.
I hear now they have people use a lower/​upper combination in a rotation but those mouth guard combos are expensive so I just had my four or five year old mouth guard built back up again and went on my way.
They’ve always been very responsive to my needs in terms of coming from Phoenix and being self-​pay. They’re not pushy or fear-​mongers. They’re patient and kind and it’s always been a great experience or I wouldn’t keep driving to Tucson when I’m visiting family in Phoenix. It’s not the most beautiful drive.
Every time I meet someone who’s got bad TMJ or TMD — whatever they call it these days — I tell them there’s hope. I tell them about my experience. If you’re suffering and your in the Tucson area or you’re in Phoenix and cannot get proper care, I suggest you go see Dr. Harkins.

Dr. Harkins is supposed to be a very good dentist/​oral surgeon but there are others in the same field as good or better who don’t have the same level of arrogance as Dr. Harkins who seems to have some sort of God complex. If you question him in any way he turns downright nasty.
Also worth mentioning, his staff members are as cold as ice.