A longtime member of the Dental Depot family, Dr. Daniel Keesh first joined the company in 2016 and began his journey in dentistry working as both a dental assistant and office assistant before pursuing his professional degree. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, he brings a strong foundation in general dentistry and a deep understanding of the practice’s core values. Over the years, he has worked closely with teams across multiple Dental Depot locations, gaining experience in comprehensive general dentistry, restorative procedures, and patient-centered treatment planning. Now, as the new partner owner of the Dental Depot of Arizona Surprise location and a mentor for four other Phoenix-area offices, Dr. Keesh is focused on continuing the practice’s commitment to accessible, high-quality dental care for families throughout the West Valley.
For Dr. Keesh, dentistry has always been an opportunity to care for people. Nearly ten years ago, he began his journey at Dental Depot as an office assistant at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, location, answering phones and confirming appointments while completing his undergraduate degree. At the time, he was still exploring whether dentistry was the right career path. What convinced him was not only the clinical side of the profession he saw at Dental Depot, but the company’s philosophy behind it.
“I first jumped in to see if this was something I wanted to do,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d fall in love with it as much as I have. It’s become three times what I thought it would be, and that’s because of the patient philosophy here at Dental Depot.”
That philosophy felt familiar. Growing up, Dr. Keesh watched his parents run a restaurant where customer service shaped every interaction.
“My dad always emphasized listening to the customer and guiding them to what they wanted,” he says. “He taught me how important it is to protect people’s time and pocketbooks instead of just taking their money.”
When Dr. Keesh saw those same values in action at Dental Depot, he immediately recognized something different.
“I remember calling my dad and telling him how amazed I was at how much Dental Depot prides itself on customer service,” he recalls. “It reminded me of everything I learned growing up, and that’s when I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
After deciding to pursue dentistry, he began shadowing doctors, learning procedures, and becoming deeply familiar with the workflow of the practice. The environment encouraged initiative. When he asked for more responsibility, he received guidance. When he wanted to learn new procedures, experienced doctors stepped in to mentor him.
“Every time I’ve asked for more, doors have been opened,” he says. “And not only that, but there’s also always been someone with a few more years of experience willing to guide me.”
Beyond the day-to-day mentorship from experienced doctors, the example set by the company’s leadership shaped him just as profoundly. Dr. Keesh saw firsthand that growth at Dental Depot was not only about refining clinical skills, but about understanding the responsibility that comes with caring for others. He recalls watching founder Dr. Glenn Ashmore spend time late on a Friday afternoon carefully explaining oral hygiene to a Medicaid patient.
“I mean, for a guy of his age and position, who runs 40 offices, to be doing this at 5:00 on a Friday just astonished me, and I asked him why he still made time for that,” Dr. Keesh says. “He told me he didn’t know what else he would do if he wasn’t taking care of people. That stuck with me, the perspective that, even with all the money in the world, at the end of the day, how are you treating others?”
While Dr. Keesh briefly worked at other dental clinics, he found that few matched the consistency of message and leadership he had seen at Dental Depot, no matter which location he was at.
“Dental Depot takes care of its doctors the same way it takes care of its patients,” he says. “There’s mentorship, there’s support, and there’s a clear philosophy of helping people.”
Over time, that culture helped him grow from a front desk assistant to a practicing dentist and leader within the organization. Now, as a partner owner for the Surprise location and mentor for four other Phoenix area offices, Dr. Keesh is bringing everything he’s learned about customer service and taking care of people directly into the exam room.
When Dr. Keesh first walks in to meet with a patient, he doesn’t arrive with a treatment plan already formed. He starts with a simple question: “What brings you in today?”
“Some doctors walk in, look at the X-rays, and tell you what you need,” he says. “But first I want to understand what you’re concerned about. That sets the tone for everything.”
For Dr. Keesh, dentistry begins with listening. Before discussing crowns, root canals, implants, or Invisalign, he wants to understand what the patient is actually experiencing. Is it pain, embarrassment, anxiety, frustration, or simply the desire to improve their smile? By showing that he genuinely cares about what they need and what is in their best interest, he is able to build trust from the outset.
“If patients know I’m focused on what’s best for them—not just trying to make a quick buck—it changes the whole relationship,” he explains.
To get an even clearer picture, he asks thoughtful follow-up questions: What do you do for work? Was it difficult to take time off? How much pain are you in? How important are aesthetics right now? What does your insurance look like?
“All of those conditions help shape the best solution for that person,” Dr. Keesh says. “Some people need something done quickly because it’s hard to miss work. Others want an immediate aesthetic improvement. And sometimes it isn’t about a restoration at all; it’s just about getting someone out of pain.”
Understanding those individual circumstances isn’t just about tailoring a clinical solution; it’s about empowering patients to make informed decisions that align with both their health and their unique situation. For Dr. Keesh, education is central to putting patients first. That means clearly explaining not only what can be done, but what should be done, what it will involve, and how it will impact both long-term oral health and the patient’s finances.
That philosophy becomes especially important in conversations about larger procedures, like dental implants. While Dr. Keesh offers implants, he is careful not to frame them as a universal solution.
“Nothing beats a natural tooth at the end of the day,” he says. “Dentistry is an art. We do our best to make replacement options look and feel natural, but once surgery happens, it’s never exactly the same.”
He takes time to walk patients through the full picture: implants often require six to nine months of healing, a significant financial investment, and ongoing maintenance. For smokers or patients with certain health risks, outcomes can be more complex. And implants don’t eliminate every future dental concern.
“Sometimes someone says, ‘I’m sick of these teeth, so let’s just pull them and do implants,’” he explains. “But if we can save a natural tooth with a root canal and crown, that’s often more predictable and more affordable in the long run.”
He has seen patients remove a tooth because they couldn’t afford a root canal, only to face a much higher cost later to replace it. Delaying care or choosing a quicker fix can create greater financial and health burdens over time. His role is to make sure patients understand those tradeoffs clearly — without pressure and without judgment — so they can choose what truly serves them.
That commitment to education extends beyond procedures and into financial transparency. At Dental Depot, looking out for a patient’s pocketbook is part of the company’s founding philosophy, a principle emphasizing commonsense dentistry that respects both oral health and financial wellbeing.
With his patients, Dr. Keesh discusses things like insurance coverage, annual maximums, phased treatment planning, and strategic timing. In some cases, that might mean completing a root canal now and waiting until insurance resets to place a crown. In others, it could mean spacing treatment out to reduce out-of-pocket strain.
“We’re not just educating patients about their teeth,” he says. “We’re helping them make smart financial decisions, too. That’s the best of both worlds: protecting their health without putting them in a difficult financial position.”
For many patients, the most immediate concern isn’t just discomfort but cost. Dr. Keesh has treated patients holding their face in pain who are just as anxious about the bill as the diagnosis.
“What I’ve learned,” he says, “is that sometimes the financial stress is greater than the pain they’re already in.”
Part of putting patients over profits means relieving both. When he can tell a patient their insurance covers 90 percent of a procedure, the relief is often immediate and visible. Calming that anxiety, explaining the process clearly, and outlining manageable next steps are just as important as the clinical treatment itself.
Putting patients first also means paying attention to the emotional weight many people carry into the exam room. The mouth is a vulnerable place, and for many patients, simply showing up for their appointment is a big deal. They may feel embarrassed about how long it’s been since their last visit, self-conscious about the condition of their teeth, or they may be bracing themselves for criticism before a word has even been spoken, concerns Dr. Keesh is keenly aware of that.
“I always start by telling new patients this is a judgment-free zone,” he says. “We’re not here to shake a finger. Let’s figure out why you’re here, and then we can talk about things.”
Instead of launching immediately into clinical explanations, he tries to “read the room,” often beginning with conversation about work, family, or whatever helps ease the tension in the room. Years of meeting people from all walks of life have taught him that managing emotions is part of delivering good dentistry.
“I can tell when someone’s nervous,” he explains. “Sometimes I’ll start with something completely different just to take the edge off before we jump into treatment.”
That small pause can make a significant difference, transforming the experience from transactional to relational. It also reminds patients that while he may be the doctor, he is also just a person sitting across from another person.
At the end of the day, Dr. Keesh keeps going back to the lessons he’s learned his whole life, from his dad to Dr. Ashmore: that the most important thing isn’t what’s needed; it’s how you treat the person in front of you.
At Dental Depot of Arizona, patients of all ages can receive the comprehensive care they need in one convenient location. From preventive visits to restorative procedures and long-term smile maintenance, the focus is on practical, coordinated care that fits real life. Doctor-directed Invisalign treatment provides patients with a comfortable and convenient way to refine their smile while more advanced restorations like dental implants or root canals are carefully weighed to fit each patient’s personal circumstance. No matter what brings you in, Dr. Keesh and the providers at Dental Depot take the time to educate and empower you with clear information, practical conversations, and options tailored to your unique goals, timeline, and long-term oral health.
With our commitment to commonsense dentistry, delivered with flexibility and compassion, Dental Depot of Arizona carries on the company’s tradition of patient-first care. With convenient scheduling options, transparent pricing, and a team experienced in working with insurance to maximize benefits, patients can make informed decisions without unnecessary pressure. If you’re looking for a dental home where your whole family can feel comfortable and confident in their care, schedule an appointment at Dental Depot’s Surprise location today.
