Associate Dentist — Endo & Surgery Focus | Start 1 Day a Week | Path to Partnership

Private practice. Not a DSO. And not a temp shift.

Desert Foothills Dental is a privately owned, single-location practice in Ahwatukee Foothills, South Phoenix — serving this community for 47 years, from a 6-operatory office. We are looking for an experienced general dentist to join us one day a week to start, with a clear path to more days, a long-term associateship, and ownership. We are  screening for an ownership mindset. If you are looking for a dental home — a place to put down roots and one day own a piece of what you help build — keep reading.

Ownership is named, not hinted at.

There is an opportunity for 10–50% buy-in after one year. We name the timeline and the range because we want dentists who think like owners to apply: people who care about patients, numbers, and the team — not just the day's schedule. The path is a real conversation from the first interview, and the steps get put in writing as we prove the fit together.

The work: keep the interesting dentistry in-house. Right now, we refer out the cases you probably became a dentist to do. Your day is built around bringing them back: - Endodontics first — root canals, including molars. This is our biggest need. - Then surgery — surgical extractions and perio surgery. - General and restorative care fills the rest of the day. You will have full clinical autonomy — no production quotas, no one looking over your shoulder. And you will not be competing for leftover cases or waiting through a slow build: your schedule is built from day one out of the endo and surgery cases we currently have to send away.

Quality over quantity. We are a mostly fee-for-service practice (in network only with Delta Dental Premier). We do not rush patients through. Our purpose is to build lifelong relationships based on trust, by treating patients as whole people and supporting their total wellness. Our promise to every patient is Communication, Clarity, and Comfort. Our core values are Honest, Humble, Hungry, and Heart — we hire, grow, and part ways based on these values. Culture fit matters as much to us as clinical skill. Our office runs on CBCT, a Trios scanner, digital x-rays, and intraoral cameras, with Open Dental as our practice system.

Pay, in plain terms. 28–31% of collections, with a $1,000 daily guarantee during your first 90 days while your schedule builds. No salary games, no vague "competitive pay," no numbers that change from one website to the next. We would rather talk real numbers with the right person.

Who this fits. - DDS or DMD, with an active Arizona dental license and DEA. - About 5–10 years of clinical experience. This is not a new-graduate role. - Strong endodontic skills — molar root canals are a normal part of your week — and real comfort with surgical extractions and perio surgery. - You explain treatment in plain, clear words, and patients trust you. - You want a long-term home and are genuinely interested in ownership one day. - You live in South Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler, Tempe, or Gilbert — and your drive passes the check below. This role does not come with mentorship as the pitch — you do not need it. If you want a peer to talk cases with, the owner is here and works that way. But you will run your day.

Before you apply, please check your drive. We mean this kindly, and we mean it seriously. In the past, dentists have come in for an interview, liked everything — and then decided the drive was too long. That wastes your time and ours. So please do this first: map the drive from your home to Ahwatukee (85048) at the time of day you would actually travel — morning traffic, not the midday number. If that drive still feels fine, we would love to hear from you. If it feels long, it will not get shorter — and this role only works if the drive stays easy for years, not weeks.

How to apply. Send your CV and a short note that covers: - Your endo and surgery case mix — how many molar root canals you complete in a typical week, and what surgery you are comfortable taking on from day one. - Where you actually live now (neighborhood or nearest cross streets) and your real door-to-door drive time to Ahwatukee (85048) at your normal travel time. We confirm this on our first call, before we book any interview — profile locations are not always right, and a short commute is a real requirement here. - Whether you are interested in associateship, partnership, or both — and what you hope for in compensation. - Any noncompete or contract limits in your current role that we should know about up front.

Our process: application → phone screen → in-person interview → paid working interview day → offer. All inquiries are kept private.