I love Tucson. I was born and raised here and have come to really enjoy the people and surroundings. I was raised by Sam and Ronnie Dalesandro who both live here in Tucson. I grew up swimming and playing soccer and was quite an athlete.
I attended Salpointe Catholic High School and graduated in 1997. As you know, I met my future wife Debbie there in Homeroom. We swam on the varsity swim team together and attended prom together our senior year.
It was while at Salpointe that I found my love for Dentistry. During my senior year I took a course that allowed me to observe a professional in our community. I decided to work with Dr. Ronald Quintia, a Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon. During that time I was amazed at what one could do for others and fell in love with the ability to make people happy through the power of healing. Dr. Q. advised me to take business courses because they wouldn't teach you that in dental school.
Off I went to the University of Southern California. I graduated in 2001 with a degree in Real Estate Finance and Development. The Marshall School of Business at USC is one of the top business schools in the country and I am very proud to have earned my degree from there.
I moved back to Tucson after graduation and worked for a national home-builder. I started in site sales and acquired many tools about communication and interaction with others. As my professional career was blossoming, Debbie had moved back to Tucson and our relationship together evolved to talks of marriage and family. Watching her father, Dr. Derickson, treating patients in his office with such skill and enthusiasm rekindled my desire for Dentistry as a career. It was then that I decided to reinvest myself in school and pursue my doctorate degree in Dentistry.
Debbie and I moved to Glendale, Arizona, where I earned my Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree. Along the way we had two beautiful children, Lincoln and Kason. Although they were born in Phoenix, they will be raised as Wildcat fanatics just like Mommy and Daddy.
I appreciate the opportunity to work with my patients and serve this community that I love. Thank you again for visiting our practice. My number one objective is patient satisfaction and I look forward to serving you.
Dr. Derickson was born in Tucson, Arizona. He attended Tucson High School, the University of Arizona, and received his Dentistry Degree from the University of Southern California where he graduated in the top 2% of his class. Dr. Derickson has received numerous honors including Who's Who in Arizona, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, America's Top Dentists, and Top Dentists in Tucson (as voted by his peers). He is also a member of the Fiji Hall of Fame! He belongs to the Catalina Rotary Club and is a Past President. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, skiing, knife making, photography, and tennis. His father was an orthopedic surgeon in Tucson. He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Dr. Derickson is married and has three daughters and 6 grandchildren. A life-long member of the Southern Arizona Dental Society and the American Dental Association, he is constantly attending continuing education classes to achieve an even higher level of knowledge and expertise. He is a Laureate of the American Academy of Dental Sciences and Fellow of the American College of Dental Sciences.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Dr. Weege enjoyed growing up in the Pacific Northwest but perhaps experienced one too many rainy days. Following graduation from Oregon State University and Indiana UniversitySchool of Dentistry, Dr. Weege sought sunshine which led his family to eastern Washington where he practiced dentistry in a rural farming community for ten years. After selling his practice, the Weege's next phase of life included warmer winters which lead them to Tucson, and several family members followed suit, where they now enjoy the wonderful lifestyle southern Arizona has to offer.
Dr. Weege has contributed to the profession in numerous capacities. He has practiced in public health mobile dental units, previously served on the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission (state dental board), and was adjunct faculty at Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health for seven years.Dr. Weege has also treated thousands of underprivilegedpatients while serving on staff at El Rio Health in Tucson, where his favorite part of the job was attending NYU Langone AEGD dental residents. Dr. Weege is currently an active member of the Western Regional Examining Board which tests competency of new colleagues entering the profession. He is also a volunteer with the Flying Samaritans Tucson chapter.
Excited to be back in private practice and work alongside Dr. Dalesandro and team; Dr. Weege treats patients with a basic mindset, 'my philosophy is simple - treat all patients as if they are a friend or member of the family'. In his spare time, Dr. Weege enjoys coaching youth sports, landscaping, hiking and golf. Dr. Weege and his wife Keeley now have two teenagers in the house and a rescued Newfoundland named Daisy.
Dr. Dalesandro provides top of the line Tucson Restorative Dentistry service that uses metal-free / ceramic fillings and porcelain crowns which are not only safe but prolongs the overall life of the tooth.
Large metal fillings corrode over time. Silver amalgams contain mercury. They also cause cracks in the surrounding enamel from the expansion and contraction differences. Cracks don't ever heal. So Restorative Dentistry may involve a root canal treatment if the fractures affect the dental nerve and/or crown. Our doctors really recommend these modern ceramic fillings. They look and wear more like natural enamel and are kinder to the opposing teeth. The treated teeth also retain much of their strength as the bonding process pulls and holds all surfaces together.
A human jaw creates over 200 lbs. of force per square inch! When tooth strength has diminished due to decay, injury, cracks, or wear, it is imperative to the tooth's longevity that it be protected from the stresses of chewing. A Crown (AKA Cap) is a protective shell made of porcelain or a combination of different materials.
Restorative Dentistry is a way of labeling the integrated management of oral health issues. As well as restoring the mouth to a functional and esthetic state. Procedures that are under this label include prosthodontic dentistry, fillings, veneers, crowns, bridges, full and partial dentures, and dental implants. The American Dental Association does not recognize this as a dental specialty. However, general dentists are still allowed to perform any of these procedures without additional certification.
When it comes to restorative dentistry we have 2 main options. Direct and indirect. We now live in an age where we have many choices for repairing worn, decayed, damaged, or missing teeth. With Dr. Dalesandro, you'll discuss which option is best for you. Now let's break down the difference between direct and indirect dental restoration.
Some Restorative Dentistry work like dental implants, is most likely not covered by your dental insurance. Another option is to check with your medical insurance, It is possible to have it covered with them depending on your condition. In some cases other medical issues can affect your dental health, this is one of those situations that your medical insurance can come in and cover costs. You'll have to speak with your dentist to figure out the best plan for action.
Anything that deals with aesthetic enhancements of your teeth will be considered cosmetic. Anything that focuses on the appearance of your teeth and helps you restore the function of your teeth. Teeth whitening will be considered a restorative procedure.
When dealing with rotting teeth, your dentist will perform restorative dental procedures. This will help remove all the decay in your mouth and replace it with materials approved by dentists to bring back its function. It will also take away the pain and avoid any infections this could cause.
Restorative dental procedures will help clear your mouth of decay. If this is not taken care of, it will lead to many more issues. This will lead to damage to the enamel, and create more decay. The decay can spread to other teeth. This will cause pain and cause infections. This will ultimately affect your oral health.
A root canal is known to be very painful. Some do consider it to be more painful than an extraction. However, during both procedures, you will receive anesthesia that will help reduce the pain. You may even be prescribed pain relievers to take after the procedure at home.
