Meet the team — Hygienist
Candace Turley, RDH
—Calm, patient-centered care built on 15 years of experience
Candace is a Registered Dental Hygienist at our Ahwatukee location, bringing 15 years of experience and a warm, patient-centered approach to every appointment. Growing up in a military family, she moved frequently before graduating high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and heading to Reno for college.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by an Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene from Truckee Meadows Community College in Nevada. Her interest in the dental field started early — inspired by her aunt, who was also a hygienist. After completing her biology degree, she explored dental hygiene further and fell in love with every aspect of the profession.
Before joining Kokopelli Dentistry, Candace spent 11 years at another private practice right here in Ahwatukee before the dentist retired. That long tenure reflects what she values most about her work: the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients. She loves getting to know whole families — watching kids grow up and catching up with familiar faces at every visit.
Candace's approach to patient care is calm and understanding. She recognizes that many patients experience nervousness or sensitivity, and she takes the time to ensure everyone feels at ease in the chair. Whether it's a routine cleaning or a more involved procedure, her goal is to provide gentle, thorough care in a comfortable environment.
Beyond her clinical work, Candace is our community outreach champion. As a mom deeply connected to the Ahwatukee community, she's always looking for ways Kokopelli Dentistry can give back. When two local elementary schools faced a hectic last-minute campus relocation, Candace didn't hesitate — she helped rally the team to sponsor a full luncheon for both schools' entire staff, complete with a "When life gives you lemons" theme to thank the teachers for making the best of a tough situation. That kind of initiative is second nature to her — if there's an opportunity to show up for the community, she's already on it.
What Candace handles
Specialties & day-to-day.
Credentials & education
Where Candace trained.
Outside the chair
Who Candace is after 5pm.
Family Life
Candace has been married to her husband Mark for 13 years and is a proud mom to two daughters — Ella (9) and Emmerson (10). The family also includes their beloved 13-year-old pup, Toby.
Community Champion
Candace is always finding ways for Kokopelli to give back — from sponsoring lunches for local school staffs to supporting educators and families across the Ahwatukee community. If there's an opportunity to show up, she's already on it.
Active & Outdoorsy
Candace loves hiking, walking, and really anything outside. She's also her daughters' biggest cheerleader — supporting Ella and Emmerson in all their interests and activities.
Rest of the team
You'll meet all of them eventually.
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Meet Candace on your next visit.
Candace works out of our Ahwatukee office. Request a cleaning or new-patient visit and you'll likely see Candace there.