Bridget Burris, DDSDr. Burris graduated from Baylor University College of Dentistry with her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1985, and then began practicing general dentistry in Las Cruces. Prior to receiving her degree in dentistry, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from New Mexico State University in 1981. During that time she was also a graduate research assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She has undergone extensive postgraduate training and has completed study at The Dawson Academy, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education, and Spear Education. Dr. Burris takes a special interest in cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry and uses modern tools and techniques to create life-changing smiles.
Her professional memberships include the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, New Mexico Dental Association, South West District Dental Society, Spear Faculty Club, and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. She has completed her fellowship with the Misch Institute of Implantology. In February of 2012, Dr. Burris earned Diplomate status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. The awarding of Diplomate status is the highest honor a professional society such as the ICOI can bestow on a dental professional involved in oral implantology. She is also certified in Laser Dentistry by the Academy of Laser Dentistry. Dr. Burris is a visiting faculty member for the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry and Spear Education. She also has gained fellowship status with The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry.
For the past 23 years, Dr. Burris has volunteered her time to the El Paso Zoo, performing dentistry for the animals. She also volunteers in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico on medical and dental mission trips, as well as volunteering locally at the New Mexico Mission of Mercy. She also supports her local community through involvement with local youth, FFA, 4-H, and Las Cruces Rotary. In her spare time, Dr. Burris enjoys scuba diving, beading, and spending time with her two children and pets.
Our team was carefully selected for their friendly qualities as well as the top-notch services they provide. We know you will appreciate their warmth as they help in providing high-quality dental care.
Regina Benjamin Office Manager Regina is our office manager, and with 37 years of accounting and management experience is a great addition to our practice. She attended WNMU in Silver City and the School of Accountancy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Regina brings a positive attitude to the practice and believes that motivation and a dedicated work ethic are essential. Regina has been married to her husband, Tommy, for 39 years. They have a daughter and son who live in Las Cruces with their spouses and all of their wonderful grandchildren, who bring so much joy into their lives.
Dawn JacksonPatient Treatment Specialist Dawn began her dental assisting career in 1980 and joined our team in 1988, and has faithfully been Dr. Burris's right hand! Her certifications include CEREC, dental sedation, cosmetic dentistry, reconstructive and rehabilitative dentistry, sleep apnea appliances, and biometrics in support of TMJ dysfunction. She's also a member of the Association of Dental Implant Auxiliaries. Dawn values our modern technology and advanced treatments and our team's commitment to quality. She is especially knowledgeable in computer programs in the dental field, and is mostly in charge of that aspect of the office as well as her many other duties as head assistant. For many years now she has volunteered in a very different aspect of dentistry. Ask her about her very first time assisting Dr. Burris in a surgical suite at the El Paso Zoo! Dawn has been married to her husband, Mike, since 1983. They have one son, who is the light of her life. Away from the office, Dawn reads, knits, has held several positions in her church, and is a loving, committed wife and mother. She likes to refer to many of her patients as extended family and is always happy to see them as they return for their dental visits!
Margie Hamelink Patient Treatment Specialist & Patient Care CoordinatorA member of our team since 2006, Margie brings with her over 30 years of experience in dentistry. She loves working with patients whether in the operatory as an assistant or greeting patients as a receptionist. She is cross-trained in both areas, speaks fluent Spanish and a little German, and is happy to interpret when needed. She has completed extensive training and has certifications in CEREC, sleep medicine, sleep apnea oral appliance therapy, biometrics to treat TMJ pain, cosmetic dentistry, advanced cardiac life support, and radiology. Margie is also a member of the Association of Dental Implant Auxiliaries. She likes our high-tech, progressive practice, and she loves seeing patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles. Margie has traveled with Dr. Burris to Honduras and Guatemala, assisting in medical/dental mission trips through the Open Wide Foundation and also volunteers her spare time alongside Dr. Burris assisting at the El Paso Zoo, restoring or extracting big teeth on 'lions, tigers and bears, OH MY!' Margie has three sons and a daughter. She and her husband, Ron, enjoy winter skiing, hiking, and camping. She also enjoys making jewelry, reading, knitting, crocheting, and spending time with her eight grandchildren.
Daisy Torres Patient Care Administrator Daisy, now working at the front desk as a patient care administrator, brings over five years of experience as a dental assistant. She obtained her dental assisting degree from Dona Ana Branch Community College in 2004. Because Daisy possesses 'that compassionate, caring, touch' and likes helping people, she appreciates that our work environment and leading-edge technology enable her to give the best of care to all patients. Daisy is certified in CEREC, dental sedation, cosmetic dentistry, sleep apnea appliances, biometrics in support of TMJ dysfunction, advanced cardiac life support, and auxiliary implantology. She speaks fluent Spanish, another plus, as she treats our bilingual patients! Daisy likes to cook (not bake!) and spend time with her daughter and son.
Maggie Knapp Treatment Coordinator A recent east coast transplant, Maggie is a National Board Qualified Dental Assistant who brings with her over 30 years of experience in the dental field. Her background includes periodontics, children 's dentistry, oral and facial pain, and general dentistry. She also taught 'The Essentials of Dental Assisting' at Montgomery College in Maryland and is a certified radiology technologist in three states, including New Mexico. Maggie loves getting to know her patients and thoroughly enjoys her visits with them. She and her husband moved to Las Cruces to be closer to their children and four grandchildren who live in the southwest. Another plus to living in this area is being able to hike and bike year round, something Maggie could not do back east. She is an avid reader and enjoys sewing in her free time.
Susanna Sexauer Dental Hygienist Susanna has experience both working in the dental hygiene industry as well as instructing future dental assistants in Santa Fe, NM. She received her Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene from New Mexico State University and her Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of New Mexico. She not only brings a love of her job to work every day, but she also has a personality that makes everyone around her happier. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband Josh, who is currently finishing his PhD in Industrial Engineering, and their wonderful new baby girl, Avery Mae.
Arianna Sanchez Dental Assistant Arianna joined our team in 2016. She graduated from Las Cruces High School and started taking dental assistant classes in El Paso, TX. She is DANB certified and New Mexico-licensed. Her own dental anxiety was what drove her to want to work in this field to do her best at making every patients visits more comfortable and pleasant. In her spare time, she helps out with running her parents restaurant and also works their food truck on the weekends at the local farmers and crafts market. When not busy working, she spends her time with family and caring for her four fur buddies.
Kari Camp Dental Assistant Kari started working for Dr. Burris in 2017, with 21 years of dental experience. She had her assistant training in Abilene, TX, and is CDA-certified through DANB and New Mexico-licensed. Although a licensed assistant, she also has many years of experience in scheduling, management, insurance, and training of employees. She enjoys working with patients and helping with their dental needs. Kari has lived in New Mexico for 19 years and is glad to call it home. Outside of work she enjoys quality time with her teenage daughter and also a number of sports activities.
Reviews
Rating 4.8 out of 5 based on 125 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestVictoria Nguyen
a year ago
My family and i have been going here for a long time. They have always taken great cear of me. Thank you ACCESS DENTAL!!!
dannybfione
a year ago
I have been going to this place for years and nothing beats them in this town!
Daphne Wirthlin
2 years ago
The only Truly Bad Dental Experience that I have ever had in over 70 years of going to the Dentist.
Jim Cilento
2 years ago
Yesterday I had done what I thought would be a serious tooth extraction. It was professionally done. The team : Bridget Burris, DDS, Tonia, Extraction Specialist and an Intern made the procedure stress and pain free. From start to finish the TOTAL staff was a rare combination of respectful professional experts. Very uplifting.
Daniel Oravetz
2 years ago
I can't say enough good things about Bridget Burris DDS. The staff is welcoming, accommodating, friendly, and sets the standard for professionalism. I have always struggled mightily with restorative dental treatment as a result of a severe gag reflex, but with the IV sedation offered by Bridget Burris DDS I have been able to have years' worth of treatment completed in just a couple of visits. Their patience and understanding makes me feel as though I'm treated as a person first and foremost and not just a patient file. I believe they should be the metric against which all other standards of dental care should be measured.
Kacie Shannon
3 years ago
I am so thankful for Dr. Burris and her staff! They all work together so well and get things done. It is such a good feeling to have people who truly care about your health. Dr. Burris is very thorough and makes sure all things are covered. She does not wait for things to become a problem. This practice is world class!
Amanda Luna
3 years ago
I was a former patient of Bridget Burris and needed a crown installed in early 2018. They had given me options for what material, and I had requested a gold crown (the tooth in question was one of my back molars). I had said I wanted gold at least a couple times, during the consultation and even once more before they began the procedure; they seem like they understood, and I was more than willing to pay the extra amount for gold because I know that material holds a little longer than porcelain in regards to knowing it needs to be replaced sometime in the future. The procedure was longer than they had originally told me, and due to my teeth being highly sensitive, my stress was very high heading into the 2nd hour of the crown installation. I struggle with being a very shy and timid girl, and I'm embarrassed to ever make a scene especially in front of strangers, so I always find myself complying even when I am uneasy. During the second dose of local anesthesia to numb the area, I experienced a severe bout of feeling lightheaded and a sudden anxiety attack to where I ended up shedding a few tears out of panic due to my severe fear towards needles. I was told by who I believe was Burris that "I was too old to be crying at the dentist". Before they began drilling again, I asked politely If I could sit up for a couple minutes to calm myself down and if my mother could come sit on the bench by my feet instead in the waiting room because I explained I was concerned I was going to faint. There was then a comment made "How old are you? 20 years old is a good age for you not to have mom always next to you". These rude comments made me feel absolutely terrible about myself, especially when you are in such a vulnerable state. I did not say anything for the rest of the procedure out of sheer embarrassment. I understand that everyone has bad days and sometimes patience its hard to find when you are wanting to finish within a certain timeframe, however I can't understand why Burris was so rude and felt that she had the power to talk down to a younger girl who was shy and less inclined to speak up. I have seen similar reviews made here about Burris being outwardly rude to patients that have either dental anxiety or appear more meek, so I now understand this is a pattern. By the end of the appointment, I was sat up and was given a mirror to see my new crown and was confused to see they had given me a porcelain crown. I said nothing. I was very anxious, and just wanted to leave as soon as I could, instead of asking why I had a porcelain crown instead of the gold I had originally asked for (and might have even paid for.. ) The reason why I am writing a review years later is because I moved to Albuquerque and going to another dentist I am very happy with. I have been asked a numerous amount of times by both dentist and hygienist who in the world installed my crown. After a recent consultation, I need to replace this crown after only 3 short years due to odd fit, the pain it gives me possibly due to the placement, and the excess amount of cement/glue that is still surrounding around the edges that are now affecting the teeth in-between the crown. I could have saved myself so much money and emotional grief by going to a dentist who was not only personable towards their patients, but also better equipped to install a crown correctly the first time so I didn't have to replace it so soon afterwards.
Brian Gibson
3 years ago
Best Experience Thanks For the great Service And Kindness and Care
Daniel Oravetz
3 years ago
I can't say enough good things about Bridget Burris DDS. The staff is welcoming, accommodating, friendly, and sets the standard for professionalism. I have always struggled mightily with restorative dental treatment as a result of a severe gag reflex, but with the IV sedation offered by Bridget Burris DDS I have been able to have years' worth of treatment completed in just a couple of visits. Their patience and understanding makes me feel as though I'm treated as a person first and foremost and not just a patient file. I believe they should be the metric against which all other standards of dental care should be measured.
Jim Cilento
3 years ago
Yesterday I had done what I thought would be a serious tooth extraction. It was professionally done. The team : Bridget Burris, DDS, Tonia, Extraction Specialist and an Intern made the procedure stress and pain free. From start to finish the TOTAL staff was a rare combination of respectful professional experts. Very uplifting.
Cherie Woods
3 years ago
DON'T COME HERE!! They only want your money! We had an accident out of town and my wife chipped her front tooth. Luckily, it happened the evening before we were heading back to Cruces. So, we opted to wait so we could AVOID out of network charges. Made an appointment with our regular dentist asap. Unfortunately, that was cancelled due to a Covid 19 case. So, we ended up at this office. They office lady(I chose not to name her) took my wife's info and insurance. Now, what SHOULD have happened, was letting my wife know that they we unfortunately not in network. No such conversation was had. My wife paid a small fee and went on back for the exam for her chipped tooth. Which turned into a cleaning and xrays while she waited. Which my wife allowed since at our regular dentist is standard and no fees occur for us out of pocket. Everything was fine until we got to the exam. After telling my wife she had several cavities that needed filling(she didn't), a new custom mouth guard, some of her bottom teeth filed to keep them from growing into her top teeth PLUS the fixing of the chipped tooth, my poor wife(who is NOT a beaver and needed none of this things except the chip fixed) came home in tears with a crazy ridiculous bill. Insurance didnt seem to be paying for much according to the estimate we received so I called our regular dentist and gave them the codes from the estimate and asked what they charge for those things. It was HALF THE COST!!!! and that was BEFORE insurance!!! I couldn't believe it! I told my wife no worries, we got an emergency appointment at Desert Peaks. They actually saw her on the lunch hour and at no charge because they had cancelled the first appointment which led to this experience. Not the point though. We got a bill from Dr. Burris' office for around $60. When I called to question it. The lady(who was the same one who checked my wife in) told me insurance 'didn't pay as much as they thought' and this was the balance. Now, IF she had told us from the beginning they were out of network(which she didn't) now, would have been a great time to say, remember I told you we weren't in network and you might be charged extra? But No! Why? Because she never said that to begin with! And she knew it! I don't know if they get charged for failing to tell a customer they don't take an insurance or what, but she didn't. Even if she told 50 people that same day they were out of network, she didnt tell us. I have already established the reason we waited was to be in network in the first place! I spoke to her manager. She was very nice. The first time. She said she would need to speak with the doctor and get back to me. She did. But with a different attitude and told me the lady in the front office remembered my wife and most certainly did tell her from the beginning they would be out of network. Folks, let me tell you. This is BS! We were never told! We will NOT be paying it. They can send it to collections if they want to. $60 is a lot of money to our one income family. Honestly, the lady was probably just busy and overwhelmed and forgot. That simple. But, the way the manager made me feel. Like we were lying after we made sure to wait to be in network was unforgivable. I do not normally write reviews. Especially negative ones. But, I felt that we were wronged. That this office cares more about making sure they get money than stopping to think about the families they serve. Which, by the way, are the reason they have jobs. This was wrong and a simple apology and a write off for them would have gone a long way with me. But after reading some other reviews, it seems we aren't the only family that felt only money mattered. Go somewhere else. They over charge and apparently are never wrong.
Jo Ann M Jones
3 years ago
I had the best service, attention and treated with the utmost kindness and very happy that I chose Burris Dental office. Dr. Burris and her staff are the best. I recommend anyone who are looking for a great dental experience. From the heart. Jo Ann M. Jones.
Shirley Lucero
3 years ago
I love Dr Burris and her staff. They are all so friendly and personable. They are knowledgeable in all procedures and are pretty hi-tech in the equipment used during a procedure where they make getting dental work seem like a breeze with no discomfort and little pain. I tried another dentist in between visits to Dr. Burris' because I thought Dr. Burris charged a bit more than other dentists......but, believe me, she's worth every penny and more!! I will never again go see another dentist.
James Sykes
3 years ago
Great experience and exceptional staff
Kathleen Upp
3 years ago
Great staff. Super comfortable environment.
Susana Harper
3 years ago
After a bad dental experience more than 20 years ago I have never been back to a dentist. Recently several months of Unexplained swollen lymph nodes neurological pain led me to assess my teeth as a possible source. Dr. Burris was both extremely thorough and thoughtful, helping to lay out a plan to get my teeth and my health back on track. Everyone on her team also exhibits this same level of expertise, professionalism, and kindness. I ask a lot of questions and they were all answered thoroughly. I am a engineer/ manager at my work and I can see that this office is a true team of professionals with a culture of excellence. Very impressed
Richard Hoyle
3 years ago
Always friendly staff and great with small kids!
Mary Easterling
3 years ago
Extremely professional and super friendly office staff make all experiences very positive!
Renee Mullis
3 years ago
Over the years Dr. Burris has done ten crowns for me at a cost of >$10K with insurance. The last time I went to see her, she said one of these needed to be replaced, but very oddly wouldn't/couldn't explain why. Neither would the hygienist. After consulting with two other dentists, the xrays showed a mouthful of very ill-fitting crowns with excessive cement used to secure them into place. The reason they will all need to be replaced, is that eventually the thick layer of cement erodes away and leaves the area around the crown open to decay... The x-rays showing a Dr Burris's crown as compared to my new dentist's replacement crown are strikingly different (i.e., a very thick band of cement as compared to a thin cement line and crown exactly fitting what is left of the original tooth). These crowns should have lasted longer than 10 years, but now all need to be replaced at great expense. Just FYI.
Cynthia Ohrazda
3 years ago
Margie is always welcoming and pleasant and Susanna is a patient, thorough, kind hygienist. Dr. Burris is wonderful. I highly recommend this practice!
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