Dr. Matthew Phillips, DDS
Arizona-raised. Army-trained. The dentist who taught other dentists how to rebuild a smile — now caring for patients and families across the East Valley.
Dr. Matthew Phillips
DDS · Founder, 3rd Set Smiles
Advanced surgical skill, a soldier’s discipline, and a genuine belief in second chances.
Dr. Matthew Phillips grew up in Mesa, Arizona, graduated from Mesa’s Mountain View High School in 1994, and never really left the Valley behind. For dental school he headed east to the New York University College of Dentistry, where he received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 2004. More than two decades later, his experience runs the full length of the field — from everyday family checkups to some of the most complex full-arch implant reconstruction in modern dentistry.
He founded 3rd Set Smiles in Tempe to practice the way he always believed dentistry should be done: unhurried, honest, and built entirely around the person in the chair. Cleanings, fillings, and crowns; simple or complex extractions, implants, and dentures — fixed and removable — comprehensive care under one roof, explained in plain language, with no pressure and no sales pitch.
A Decade in the U.S. Army
Dr. Phillips served ten years as a dentist in the United States Army, caring for soldiers and their families through assignments in South Korea, Iraq, Hawaii, and Maryland. Along the way he completed three years of advanced surgical training and developed a focus on implant dentistry and rebuilding smiles for patients with severe tooth loss — often far from the comfort of a private office. He separated from the Army as a Major with an honorable discharge, and was recognized with the Brigadier General Joseph L. Bernier Award for his contributions to the Army’s trauma research.
He didn’t just learn full-arch implant surgery at the highest level — he went on to teach it.
Teaching the Next Generation of Implant Dentists
After his military career, Dr. Phillips refined his expertise in advanced implant techniques — including All-on-4® and implant-retained dentures — and stepped into a role teaching others. As Surgical Training Advisor at Renew Anchored Dentures, founded by ClearChoice co-founder Dr. Don Miloni, he helped establish surgical protocols and trained practicing dentists in full-arch implant procedures. The same hands that trained other clinicians in full-arch protocols now care for patients here in Tempe.
Education & Credentials
- Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) — New York University College of Dentistry, 2004
- U.S. Army Dental Corps — three years of advanced surgical training
- Surgical Training Advisor — Renew Anchored Dentures
- Member — International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
- Brigadier General Joseph L. Bernier Award — U.S. Army trauma research contributions
- Published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2010
- Licensed in Arizona
Why “3rd Set Smiles”?
Dr. Phillips loves tennis, and the name started there — in a best-of-three match, the third set is where it all comes down to the finish. He worked a dental meaning into it too: most of us get two sets of teeth, baby teeth and adult teeth. For patients who have lost theirs, dental implants and All-on-4 full-arch treatment can be a third set, and a second chance at a confident smile.
His Approach to Care
Dr. Phillips believes most dental decisions are bigger than a single tooth — they’re about how you eat, speak, sleep, and feel about yourself. Every consultation begins with a real conversation: what brought you in, what you’ve tried before, and what you actually want the outcome to look like. He believes deeply in second chances, and in making every patient feel genuinely welcome — no judgment about how long it’s been, and never any pressure to commit on the spot.
A Heart for Veterans
As a veteran himself, Dr. Phillips has a particular commitment to those who have worn the uniform. 3rd Set Smiles is proud to be a veteran-owned practice, and to offer special consideration for veterans without dental insurance. Learn more about our care for veterans →
Beyond the Office
Outside the practice, Dr. Phillips is a lifelong Arizonan and a proud Army veteran — happiest when he’s given someone a reason to smile again. Today he’s raising his own family here in Mesa, so the East Valley isn’t just where he works — it’s home.
“I listen first, examine second, and only then talk about treatment. People deserve honest answers — not a sales pitch.”
— Dr. Matthew Phillips, DDS, FounderView available appointment times and book online with Dr. Matthew Phillips.
Dr. Phillips also writes and reviews our patient guides. Read his articles on the 3rd Set Smiles blog.
Considering substantial tooth replacement? Learn about full-arch dental implant options in Tempe and what an individual evaluation should clarify.