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,…

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dental excellence

Navigating Dental Excellence with Jonathan Miller

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

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Going From Conventional to Digital Denture Fabrication

By Lee Culp, CDT | March 9, 2026

By: Lee Culp, CDTThis article originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. igniteDDS was granted permission to share with our readers. For years, creating dentures was a time-consuming process, requiring multiple patient visits, manual wax-ups, and trial-and-error adjustments. However, the rise of digital dentistry has revolutionized denture fabrication. From AI-assisted design to dental 3D printing, digital workflows have…

6 Strategies to Lead an Old Team as a New Dentist

By David Rice | March 9, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice Imagine this … or maybe you don’t need to because you’re already living it … you’re a new dentist … passionate … skilled … and ready to crush it in practice. But the team that’s been there for 10… 15… 20 years … they know the patients … the systems (or…

Why Dental Photography Is Essential in Modern Dental Practice

By James Wanamaker | March 2, 2026

By: James Wanamaker, DDS – IGNITEDDS Clinical Coach In my private practice centered on esthetics and function, dentistry is never just about restoring teeth. It’s about restoring confidence, improving function, and creating harmony between the teeth, lips, and face. When you approach dentistry at that level, one tool that becomes absolutely indispensable is dental photography….

Stop Choosing Sides: The Secret Ingredient for Next-Gen Dentistry Is Fusion

By Candy Velez - CRDH, BSDH | March 2, 2026

By: Candy Velez, CRDH, BSDH, IGNITEDDS Dental Hygiene Coach For a long time, dentistry has lived in two very different worlds. On one end, you have corporate dentistry — highly structured, efficient, protocol-driven, and focused on numbers. On the other end, you have private practice — often rooted in relationships, autonomy, and heart, but sometimes…

Advancing Implant Dentistry Through Digital Precision

By Lee Culp, CDT | February 23, 2026

By: Lee Culp, CDTThis article originally appeared on PankeyGram.org. igniteDDS was granted permission to share with our readers. The advancements in digital dentistry have redefined implantology, making it faster, more predictable, and highly precise. Traditional workflows relied heavily on physical impressions, wax-ups, and manual adjustments, often requiring multiple appointments and increasing the risk of inaccuracies….

Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up: Part 3

By Dawn Patrick | February 23, 2026

Building Financial Accountability Without MicromanagingDid you miss Part 2? Catch up on Why the Money Isn’t Showing Up, Part 2 By: Dawn Patrick, COO and Dental Business Strategy Coach, IGNITEDDS Here’s the balance every dentist wants: “I want accountability — not hovering.” Good systems do exactly that. 1. Ownership vs. Delegation You can delegate tasks….

The Tip Of The Iceberg

By Dr. Eric Recker | February 22, 2026

By: Eric Recker You get that call. Again. Lately, it feels like it’s every week. Your hygienist isn’t coming in because of a migraine, a sick kid, another illness, a family emergency, a last-minute appointment they forgot to tell you about, or some other vague reason. You look at your schedule and realize you have…

How Dentistry Affects the People You Love: Part 3

By Sable Muntean | February 16, 2026

The Guilt Dental Professionals Feel Toward Their Partners and Families By: Dr. Sable Muntean Guilt is a common, yet often unspoken, challenge for dental professionals. It creeps in when you miss family events, work long hours, or feel emotionally unavailable at home. Over time, this guilt can quietly affect your mental health and strain your…

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

By Dr. Mark Murphy, DDS | February 16, 2026

By: Mark T. Murphy, DDS This article originally appeared on PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Murphy granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers. Dentists are in a unique position to recognize the critical role sleep plays in systemic health. Research has confirmed that untreated sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of: With more consumer wearables tracking sleep…

Top 5 Mistakes New Dentists Make When Buying Their First Practice & How to Avoid Them

By David Rice | February 16, 2026

By: Dr. David Rice Buying your first dental practice is one of the most exciting — and daunting — decisions you’ll ever make. When you do it right, it’s your launchpad to fulfillment, wealth, and a self-determined future. When you do it wrong, it can trap you in stress, burnout, and financial struggle. As we…