Tanya Sue Maestas, DDS

Tanya Sue Maestas, DDS

Dr. Tanya Sue Maestas graduated from The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston in 2018.

During her dental school career, she served as the national American Student Dental Association President and became involved in organized dentistry.

After graduating, she completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency in 2019. Upon completion of her residency, she returned to the El Paso Borderland community where she serves as a Dental Director at La Clinica de Familia in Chaparral, New Mexico.

She also serves as a faculty member at the Woody L Hunt School of Dental Medicine in El Paso, Texas.

She remains involved in organized dentistry and holds various leadership roles in organizations including the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Texas Academy of General Dentistry, Hispanic Dental Association, and others.

She currently serves on the ADA Council on Communications and previously completed the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership Program.

She was recognized as an ADA 10 under 10 winner, Incisal Edge 40 under 40, and previously nominated as one of Texas New Dentists of the Year.

She currently hosts New Dentists on the Block where she helps showcase the New Dentist story and build connections with new dentists around her and Dental Fuel a podcast dedicated to sharing and learning from industry leaders’ mistakes.

She has a commitment to providing dental care to the Borderland community and hopes to encourage the next generation of dentists to give back to the community.

dental fuel

Embracing Growth Through Mistakes: Lessons from Dr. David Rice

Host: Dr. Tanya Sue MaestasGuest: Dr. David RiceEdited By: Candy Velez CRDH In the world of dentistry,…

Read More
dental excellence

Navigating Dental Excellence with Jonathan Miller

Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH Welcome back to Dental…

Read More
Mastering Dental Practice Financing with Jonathan Miller

Mastering Dental Practice Financing with Jonathan Miller

Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH Welcome back to Dental…

Read More
mistakes clinicians make

Dental Practice Ownership: Critical Mistakes New Dentists Make with Jonathan Miller

Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH In this article, Jonathan Miller…

Read More
dental startups vs. practice acquisition

Dental Startups vs. Practice Acquisition: Making the Right Decision

Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH As a dental professional,…

Read More
dental fuel

Dental Fuel Episode 12: Expert Advice with Dr. Shannon Johnson

In Dental Fuel Episode 12, Dr. Shannon Johnson wraps up our last episode with her by providing…

Read More
dental fuel

Dental Fuel Episode 11: Team Mistake with Dr. Shannon Johnson

Working in teams can be tough! Shannon Johnson knows the ins and outs of working in a…

Read More
dental fuel

Dental Fuel Episode 10: Financial Mistake with Dr. Shannon Johnson

Dr. Shannon Johnson has wisdom in dentistry and experience in the field. She knows firsthand about financial…

Read More
dental fuel

Dental Fuel Episode 9: Clinical Mistake with Dr. Shannon Johnson

Shannon Johnson is in the HOUSE, bringing the DENTAL heat!! A true ROCKSTAR in the dental world…

Read More
dental fuel

Dental Fuel Episode 8: Expert Advice with Dr. Emma Guzman-Vizcarrondo

Dr. Guzman closes out our series with us by offering some advice to our listeners! Dr. Emma…

Read More
class III cavity guide for dental students

Class III Preparation and Restoration: High-Yield Guide for Dental Students

By Michael Eid | June 23, 2025

By: Michael Eid Class III lesions are your first step into esthetic dentistry and demand perfection. You’re now working on anterior teeth—where every margin, contour, and finish is visible. This guide breaks it down so you can restore it with a little more confidence. What Is a Class III Cavity? Location: Proximal surfaces (mesial/distal) of…

empathy in leadership

Scrubs, Stress & Leadership: Why Empathy Is Your Secret Superpower

By Dawn Patrick | June 23, 2025

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Practice Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  In the fast-paced, high-demand environment of a dental practice, stress can build quickly—from back-to-back procedures and insurance hurdles to team tension and patient anxiety. What if the solution to reducing that stress isn’t about doing more, but about leading better?  One of the most underutilized…

composite warmers and how to effectively use them

Composite Warmers: Why and How to Effectively Use Them

By Dr. Lee Ann Brady | June 23, 2025

By: Lee Ann BradyThis Topic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Many dentists warm composite by placing it on top of the operatory light, but I wonder what the patient is thinking when you reach for it on top of the light.   Some dentists have water…

Do You Have the Right Retirement Plan for your Dental Practice?

Do You Have the Right Retirement Plan for your Dental Practice?

By Dr. James Pitts | June 23, 2025

By: Dr. James Pitts One of the best benefits that Dentists have are Qualified Retirement Plans. Qualified Retirement Plans are saving vehicles blessed by the IRS. They come in many varieties but are in two major categories. Individual Retirement Accounts The first category is Individual Plans. These include Individual Retirement accounts or IRAs. A Dentist…

caries on 13D, restored with garrison matrix and ecosite elements

Caries on #13D: Restored with Garrison Matrix System & Ecosite Elements

By Mohammed Hammoud | June 16, 2025

By: Dr. Mohammed Hammoud Today’s case: Caries on #13D, restored using two standout products: Here’s how they helped deliver an efficient, esthetic result! Procedure Breakdown: Isolation & Preparation: After isolating the area, caries removal was kept conservative to preserve as much enamel as possible. Matrix System: Used the Garrison Matrix System, which provided: Excellent tooth separation…

Boundaries with Heart: How Dental Teams Can Stay Compassionate Without Burning Out 

Boundaries with Heart: How Dental Teams Can Stay Compassionate Without Burning Out 

By Dawn Patrick | June 16, 2025

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Practice Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  In dentistry, we offer much more than clinical care—we offer emotional safety, comfort, and connection. But when patients are anxious, emotional, or even difficult, that emotional labor takes its toll on the team. You’re not just taking impressions and reviewing X-rays—you’re often absorbing fear, grief,…

patient history

Co-Discovering Oral Diseases Through Medical History 

By Mary Osborne RDH | June 16, 2025

By: Mary Osborne, RDHThis topic originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Osborne granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Take Your Time For Detailed Medical History  The earliest but yet the most powerful tool toward accurate diagnosis is detailed patient’s medical history. But to get the desired information that we need from patients for diagnosing…

submitting claims to dental insurance so its not fraudulant

Why Submitting Claims to Dental Insurance Under a Provider Not Rendering Treatment is Insurance Fraud

By Angela Holland | June 16, 2025

By: Angela Holland In the world of dental insurance, accuracy isn’t just important, it’s essential. When it comes to submitting dental claims, one of the most critical pieces of information is the rendering provider, the licensed dentist who actually performed the service. Whether you’re a single-practice office or part of a larger dental network, it…

drawing the line in the sand on performance

Draw the Line: How to Hold Your Team Accountable Without the Drama

By Dawn Patrick | June 10, 2025

By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Practice Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS  As a dental practice owner or manager, you work hard to create a positive, high-performing team culture. But what happens when a team member continuously falls short of expectations? Allowing poor performance to persist damages morale, impacts patient care, and affects profitability. That’s why…

the importance of taking time to take time off of work

The Importance of Making Time for Time Off from Work

By Louis Kaufman DDS, FAGD, MBA | June 10, 2025

By: Dr. Kaufman One of the most important lessons I can share with my colleagues is taking time off from the hustle and bustle of modern life. While this might seem like an indulgence it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Rest serves as a catalyst for increased productivity. Dentistry is mentally and…