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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.
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,…
Navigating Dental Excellence with Jonathan Miller
Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH Welcome back to Dental…
Mastering Dental Practice Financing with Jonathan Miller
Interviewer: Tanya Sue Maestas, DDSInterviewee: Jonathan MillerEdited By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH Welcome back to Dental…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliances And CPAP
By: Todd Sander, DMDTopic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Sander granted igniteDDS permission to share with our readers. Patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) look for alternatives to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or an integrated approach that would improve the quality of their lives and is easier to adapt. Clinicians struggle because most…
Ghosted by Your Dentist: When Poor Communication Becomes Patient Abandonment
Understanding Patient Abandonment – Lessons from Dr. A.R. By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH Imagine calling your dentist’s office to schedule an appointment, only to discover the office is permanently closed with no way to retrieve your records. Suddenly, you are left without a provider, without guidance, and without access to your dental history. This…
No More Drama: How Clear Agreements Create a Thriving, Accountable Dental TeamÂ
By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Practice Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS Managing a dental practice comes with its fair share of challenges—especially when it comes to holding your team accountable. Too often, practice owners and managers find themselves frustrated when tasks aren’t completed, patient care falls through the cracks, or team members don’t meet expectations….
Mastering Panadent Dento-Facial Analyzer Technique
By: Lee Ann Brady DMDTopic Originally Appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Brady granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Mounting the maxillary models in three reference planes to the hinge axis and acquiring the esthetic information of occlusal and incisal planes are important both diagnostically and when sending information to the lab. Achieving both…
The Most Powerful Shield in Dentistry—Is Yours Full of Holes?
Inadequate Record-Keeping – Lessons from Dr. A.R. By: Candy Velez – CRDH, BSDH In the last blog, we explored Dr. A.R.’s failure to conduct a comprehensive periodontal evaluation and how that oversight compromised patient care and legal protection. But charting alone is not enough—if documentation is incomplete, vague, or missing critical details, it fails to…
The Benefits of Accepting Dental Insurance at Your Dental Practice
By: Angela Holland In today’s competitive healthcare landscape, offering dental insurance as a payment option can be a game-changer for your practice. While it may require additional administrative work, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Here’s why accepting dental insurance can be a win-win for both your practice and your patients. 1. Attract More Patients…
The Principles of “mise-en-place” for the Dental Office
By: Dr. Savanah Craig I have become inspired by the book “Work Clean” by Dan Charnas. The book takes a look at the idea of “mise-en-place” which is taught to cooks, culinary students, and chefs around the world. “Mise-en-place” essentially means everything in its place, but Dan Chanas’ book takes a deeper dive into how…
Feel the Difference of Innovation: OptraGate® 2 Brings Comfort and Efficiency to the Dental Practice
By: Ivoclar The Ivoclar Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications with an extensive product and systems portfolio for dentists, dental technicians and dental hygienists, presents: OptraGate® 2: the enhanced version of their successful product, OptraGate®, which provides ample access to the treatment field and supports relative isolation…
Maximizing Insurance Reimbursement: The Power of Clinical Notes Over Narratives
By: Dawn Patrick, Dental Practice Coach + Director of Operations IgniteDDS Submitting dental insurance claims can be a time-consuming and frustrating process if not done correctly. Many practices struggle with claim rejections and delays due to missing documentation, incorrect coding, or vague narratives. These errors lead to longer wait times for payments, increased administrative work,…
Tooth Extractions: Simple vs. Surgical Procedures for Dental Students
By: Michael Eid Tooth extractions are typically a “last resort” option when there are no other better alternatives. However, you quickly realize that not all extractions are the same—understanding the distinctions between simple and surgical extractions is crucial. This article explains the indications, techniques, and importance of not only knowing how but WHEN to use…




