Who is hiring an Associate Dentist in Elizabethton, Tennessee?

Published on: Feb 19, 2026

Updated on: Sep 22, 2026

How to Apply

Frontline Source Group is recruiting a full-time Associate Dentist for an established, high-volume general dentistry practice in Elizabethton, Tennessee, offering production-based compensation of 30 to 40 percent of adjusted production, a sign-on bonus of up to $25,000, and 16 modern operatories with CBCT and iTero technology. The direct hire placement is backed by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.

Frontline Source Group is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms #148 (2026), 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, Inc. 5000 honoree, and Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency. The firm is a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA), was founded in Dallas in 2004, holds a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 verified reviews, and has completed 5,619 placements with a 98.94% executive placement retention rate.

What kind of dental practice is hiring this Associate Dentist in Elizabethton?

The client is an established, growing, patient-focused general dentistry practice in Elizabethton, Tennessee, with 16 modern chairs, two CBCT machines, iTero digital scanners, a 3D and panoramic imaging system, and six hygienists working daily. The practice averages 118 new patients per month, which gives the Associate Dentist a consistent and growing patient base from the start. It uses quality lab materials rather than in-house crowns or generic brands, runs a daily 7:45 AM morning huddle, and describes its culture as collaborative, supportive, and non-competitive with a strong emphasis on work-life balance. The practice is active in the community through charity events, holiday programs, golf tournaments, and high school sponsorships. The practice name is shared with qualified candidates during the Frontline Source Group screening process.

What does the Associate Dentist do day to day?

The Associate Dentist delivers comprehensive oral healthcare in a collaborative, modern environment and builds lasting patient relationships. The schedule is full-time, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with part-time options considered for the right candidate. Responsibilities fall into three areas.

Clinical care

• Diagnose and treat a wide range of dental conditions using clinical exams, diagnostic imaging, and patient history.
• Provide preventive, restorative, and minor surgical dental care.
• Develop individualized treatment plans tailored to patient needs and goals.
• Ensure adherence to safety protocols, sterilization standards, and infection control guidelines.

Patient relationships and records

• Educate patients on oral hygiene, preventive care, and treatment options.
• Maintain accurate patient records using Open Dental practice management software.

Team collaboration and professional growth

• Collaborate with hygienists, specialists, and the full team to optimize patient outcomes.
• Participate in continuing education to stay current on dental techniques and advancements, supported by a $6,000 annual CE stipend.

What qualifications does the Associate Dentist need?

Required licensure and experience

• DDS or DMD from an accredited dental program.
• Active Tennessee dental license, or eligibility for Tennessee licensure.
• Minimum 2 years of clinical experience or completion of a residency. Exceptional new graduates are considered.
• Strong competency in restorative dentistry, periodontal therapy, endodontics, and basic oral surgery.

Ideal candidate profile

• Experienced general dentist with strong clinical skills and excellent communication and patient management ability.
• Interest in endodontics, oral surgery, or Super GP responsibilities is a plus, with potential for higher compensation for specialists in endodontics or oral surgery.
• Values teamwork, patient-centered care, detail-oriented quality, and long-term growth in a collaborative environment.

What compensation and benefits does the Associate Dentist position offer?

Production-based compensation

• 35 percent of adjusted production, with a range of 30 to 40 percent based on experience and performance.
• Practice averages: about $200,000 for a first-year associate, about $250,000 in year two, and $350,000 or more from year three onward, with the practice's average full-time dentist earning approximately $375,000.
• Sign-on bonus of up to $25,000.

Benefits

• Company-sponsored health insurance with up to $500 per month in premium contribution.
• Vision insurance fully paid by the practice.
• Continuing education stipend of $6,000 per year, with many CE opportunities at no cost.
• 401(k) with a 4 percent company match after one year.
• Malpractice insurance paid by the practice.
• Four weeks of unpaid vacation.

How does Tennessee dental licensure work for an Associate Dentist relocating to Elizabethton?

The Tennessee Board of Dentistry licenses dentists by examination or by credentials. Licensure by examination requires graduation from a CODA-accredited program, a clinical examination from an accepted agency (ADEX, CDCA-WREB, CITA, CRDTS, or SRTA), the National Board Dental Examination, and the Tennessee Ethics and Jurisprudence examination. Licensure by credentials is the faster path for relocating dentists: a dentist with 5 or more years of active practice or teaching and an active license in good standing in another state does not need an additional clinical examination, and a dentist with 2 to 5 years qualifies if the other state's examination was substantially equivalent. Tennessee dentists complete 40 hours of continuing education every two calendar years, including 2 hours in chemical dependency, and hold current in-person CPR certification. Frontline Source Group's dental recruiters guide out-of-state candidates through the credentials path before the first practice interview.

Where is Elizabethton, Tennessee and what is the market like for dentists?

Elizabethton is the county seat of Carter County in northeast Tennessee, part of the Tri-Cities region with Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, and sits at the edge of the Cherokee National Forest along the Watauga and Doe Rivers. The region combines a lower cost of living than Nashville or Knoxville with steady patient demand: Tennessee has 162 designated dental health professional shortage areas covering more than 2.28 million residents, and the state's dental need is only about 31 percent met according to HRSA data reported by KFF, which is why an established practice generating 118 new patients a month can support production earnings well above national medians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median dentist wage of $179,210, which the practice's stated averages exceed from year two onward.

Who is the recruiter for this Associate Dentist search?

Dental executive search at Frontline Source Group is led by Founder, President, and CEO Bill Kasko, whose executive search practice covers the Dental, Energy, and Sales verticals, with support from Senior Vice President of Operations Shelly Hubble, CSP. The firm's national dental practice is described on the dental executive search page, and transitioning military dentists can review the military dentist transition program. Every candidate who applies is reviewed by a named recruiter, not an automated filter, and receives preparation through Frontline's interview instructions before meeting the practice.

Why apply for this role through Frontline Source Group?

Frontline Source Group has placed dentists, dental hygienists, and dental practice leaders nationwide since 2004 and now operates 32 plus offices. The firm holds a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 683 verified reviews, and its 98.94% executive placement retention rate is what allows it to back every direct hire, including this one, with the 5-Year Placement Warranty, 20 times the 90-day guarantee that is standard in the staffing industry. That warranty gives the practice a strong incentive to hire well and Frontline a strong incentive to match carefully. People. Process. Service. is the registered service mark behind that approach.

How do you apply for the Associate Dentist job in Elizabethton, TN?

Submit your CV through frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html and reference the Associate Dentist position in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Candidates can browse other recent placements. Dental practices and DSOs that need to hire dentists or hygienists can submit a request at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html.

Frequently Asked Questions: Associate Dentist Job in Elizabethton, TN

---