After 19 years, I have come to a difficult decision to step away from my dental practice and from Blacksburg. My family and I have lived in Blacksburg for 19 years. I initially practiced in Christiansburg and then opened New River Valley Dental 12 years ago, in 2007. I have enjoyed treating each and every one of you. I have treated up to three generations of some families and watched young patients grow into adulthood. It is very hard to say goodbye. Now that my children are college aged and out of the house, my husband and I will be moving further south to be close to more urban amenities.
To maintain the continuing care of my wonderful patients, I met with 7 candidates until I found Dr. Benjamin Matthews. He is a caring, calm, and meticulous dentist very much like myself. Dr. Matthews repaired a defective filling on me recently and handled the procedure in a way that confirmed my confidence in his abilities. He is thorough practical and empathetic. His goal is to continue the quality of care for which you have shown me your loyalty over these many years.
His education is impressive. Dr. Matthews graduated from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. He has expanded his creative focus and sought additional training through organizations such as the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry and numerous additional continuing dental education courses.
Although natives of Utah, Dr. Matthews, his wife Melanie, and their son Rivers have chosen to leave the west for the scenic beauty of the New River Valley. I am so appreciative of your trust and support and know in my heart that you will extend this same trust and support to Dr. Matthews. I am extremely grateful for the many relationships that I have formed through the years with my many wonderful patients.
To ensure a smooth transition, I plan to maintain a presence at the office for a few weeks, helping in any way that I can. I am confident that you will be well cared for and pleased with Dr. Matthews.
Dr. Matthews regularly seeks out advanced continuing education, and has received additional training and certifications in many aspects of dentistry including: Endodontics, Implant Dentistry, Full Mouth Reconstruction, Invisalign, and Airway Management.
Dr. Matthews has used his skills to participate in Refugee Clinics, Missions of Mercy, and Give Kids a Smile programs. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Southwest Virginia Dental Society.
Dr. Matthews enjoys visiting with patients, and works to understand each one individually. Dr. Matthews spends his free time cycling and woodworking with hand tools. He and his beautiful wife, Melanie, are blessed with an 11 year-old son, Rivers.
My family and I love calling Blacksburg home. Our summer evenings are spent enjoying the Huckleberry trail, while our weekends are often spent exploring the glorious Cascades or a member of the notorious Triple Crown. We love frequenting the farmers market and enjoy a flick at the Lyric from time to time.
I grew up in the Carolinas prior to attending Brigham Young University - Hawaii. In Hawaii, I met my wonderful wife, Melanie. We have been blessed with one son, Rivers, who has become an avid mountain biker at Pandas Pond. Rivers loves Virginia's wildlife and takes every opportunity to feed the giant turtles, climb the surrounding trees, and research the various bugs he discovers.
While attending the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, I pursued additional training beyond the standard curriculum. These involved various branches of dentistry such as: pediatrics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and oral medicine.
After graduation, I had the opportunity to work in a small coal mining community in Utah. During that time, I continued my pursuit of clinical expertise through a variety of continuing education courses including: Endodontics, Implant Dentistry, Invisalign, Full Mouth Reconstruction, and Airway Management. This further education gives me the capacity to treat complex dental cases, utilizing the best technology and specialty care available.
I promise to take the time to genuinely understand the concerns and needs of each patient. By treating you with integrity and skill, we will provide the highest standard of care, in a calm and gentle environment.
Reviews
Rating 3.8 out of 5 based on 6 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestMoondog O'Brien
3 years ago
Dr. Atherton was great...Dr. Mathews seems really good, however, their appointment system is terrible! Calls have never been returned, robot system and replies are never acknowledged and this makes it hard to verify appointments and communicate.
Moondog O'Brien
4 years ago
Dr. Atherton was great...Dr. Mathews seems really good, however, their appointment system is terrible! Calls have never been returned, robot system and replies are never acknowledged and this makes it hard to verify appointments and communicate.
Jennifer Miller
6 years ago
Our entire family sees Dr. Atherton. She has retained the same friendly staff for many years now. It's always a pleasant visit and they do a great job keeping our family healthy.
Victoria Taylor
6 years ago
Excellent and professional care. Front office staff is top notch. Never any waiting.
Jennifer Miller
6 years ago
Our entire family sees Dr. Atherton. She has retained the same friendly staff for many years now. It's always a pleasant visit and they do a great job keeping our family healthy.
Victoria Taylor
6 years ago
Excellent and professional care. Front office staff is top notch. Never any waiting.
Edwin Ramos
7 years ago
They were friendly. I had a front crown replaced recently. The replacement crown had to be fabricated 3 separate times delaying my replacement by 6 weeks. I didn't realize it at the time, but the crown was noticeably whiter and shorter than my adjacent front tooth when it was cemented. After I expressed my concerns to the office and when I came in for an adjustment, they blamed the lack of color match on my other front tooth because they suspected it had experienced trauma leading to a slight discoloration. In reference to it been shorter than my adjacent front tooth, they said it was because of my gums. Both conditions were present when they took all three impressions. They also told me to not look at my teeth so closely. In addition, I always felt rushed during my visits. It always felt impersonal. For general cleanings, go for it. If you have to have any restorative work that needs to be done, proceed with caution. Communicating expectations of how your restored teeth will look is lacking. I will go to another dentist to have my crown redone who has more experience with restorations and does a better job communicating expectations.
Edwin Ramos
8 years ago
They were friendly. I had a front crown replaced recently. The replacement crown had to be fabricated 3 separate times delaying my replacement by 6 weeks. I didn't realize it at the time, but the crown was noticeably whiter and shorter than my adjacent front tooth when it was cemented. After I expressed my concerns to the office and when I came in for an adjustment, they blamed the lack of color match on my other front tooth because they suspected it had experienced trauma leading to a slight discoloration. In reference to it been shorter than my adjacent front tooth, they said it was because of my gums. Both conditions were present when they took all three impressions. They also told me to not look at my teeth so closely. In addition, I always felt rushed during my visits. It always felt impersonal. For general cleanings, go for it. If you have to have any restorative work that needs to be done, proceed with caution. Communicating expectations of how your restored teeth will look is lacking. I will go to another dentist to have my crown redone who has more experience with restorations and does a better job communicating expectations.
Craig McKenzie
10 years ago
I had not been to the dentist in two years, and with starting college, I felt like I needed to go. I chose Dr. Atherton based on her informative website, distance to campus, and online ratings. Walking into the office was a pleasant experience. It did not scream dentist at all. It felt like I was in a living room and the vanilla helped cover up the "dentist scent" that we all know well. I checked in at 9:00 for my 9:15 appointment and was in the chair getting my teeth cleaned by 9:05! Fast service! The office staff were okay. They were still above average but didn't meet the general expectations of the overall office. Like they were nice and everything. They just felt a bit cool and disconnected. This would have made a four star experience if not for the great dentist and hygienist. They hygienist I saw on the other hand was great! I think her name was crystal. She was so nice and really cared. She was personable and had a really good bedside manner. Dr. Atherton was last and really sealed the deal. She was great! Very gentle, fast, and had a very good bedside manner. I could tell she really cared!
Craig McKenzie
10 years ago
I had not been to the dentist in two years, and with starting college, I felt like I needed to go. I chose Dr. Atherton based on her informative website, distance to campus, and online ratings. Walking into the office was a pleasant experience. It did not scream dentist at all. It felt like I was in a living room and the vanilla helped cover up the "dentist scent" that we all know well. I checked in at 9:00 for my 9:15 appointment and was in the chair getting my teeth cleaned by 9:05! Fast service! The office staff were okay. They were still above average but didn't meet the general expectations of the overall office. Like they were nice and everything. They just felt a bit cool and disconnected. This would have made a four star experience if not for the great dentist and hygienist. They hygienist I saw on the other hand was great! I think her name was crystal. She was so nice and really cared. She was personable and had a really good bedside manner. Dr. Atherton was last and really sealed the deal. She was great! Very gentle, fast, and had a very good bedside manner. I could tell she really cared!
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