Dr. Ashley Nester recently purchased the practice of Dr. Charles R. Harris in Gloucester and now trades as Nester Dental.

Harris will remain active in the practice through mid-April, Nester said. She will employ his four support staff members.

For Harris, his upcoming retirement will end 44 years of dentistry in Gloucester: 40 years at his longtime office at Hayes and the past four years at a more modern office in the Gloucester Business Park, White Marsh.

For Nester, this was a golden opportunity. She said she wanted to have her own practice and was able to purchase a modern office with numerous operatories and up-to-date dental equipment.

Harris said he first got into dentistry here because “I always loved the water” and was introduced to Gloucester while he was in college. Later, he used his professional skills as a volunteer at the Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic’s dental department, where he was the dental director for eight years. He plans to continue volunte...