Tanque Verde Dental is a Tucson based family dentist practice that treats patients of all ages. We are committed to delivering the highest quality dental care and do so using advanced dental equipment. We are a cosmetic dentist that offers services like checkups, teeth cleaning, crowns, veneers and more.
Dr. Matt grew up in Central Arizona in a wonderful family, where he was number 7 of 10 kids. After serving a 2 year mission in Nebraska he graduated from Eastern Arizona College, and then received a bachelor's degree in Microbiology from the University of Arizona. He was then accepted to the University of Iowa's dental school.
Dr. Michael J. Killebrew, D.D.S. has been practicing dentistry for more than 30 years. He is a member and good standing with the American Dental Association and has treated thousands of patients in the Tucson area. Born in Douglas, Arizona and growing up in Tucson, he attended Palo Verde High School and graduated near the top of his class. He also participated in athletics at Palo Verde and still supports the University of Arizona sports programs today.
After graduating from the University of Arizona in 1972 with a Bachelor Degree in Biology, Dr. Killebrew moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to attend dental school. There, he completed an extensive internship at the Albert Einstein Hospital. He received his Doctorate in Dental Science from Temple University in 1977. After practicing in the Philadelphia area for a year, he moved back to Arizona to start his own dental practices. In 1982, Dr. Killebrew opened his first practice at Mission and Ajo, and in 1989, he started Tanque Verde Dental in East Tucson.
Over the years the businesses expanded throughout Southern Arizona, eventually growing to six successful offices. The experience Dr. Killebrew gained through the years makes him unique in his field, offering the best in quality work and cosmetic dentistry. He understands each element of patient care and pays close attention to the individual needs of each patient, that may range from dental treatment apprehension to financial concerns.
Dr. Killebrew attends seminars each year to stay updated on the latest in dental advancements and technology. He uses updated equipment and digital x-rays in his office to extend the latest advancements in quality dental care. He also has extensive knowledge in all aspects of dentistry, helping to complete treatments in-house and avoid referring outside of the office when possible. His experience includes: restorative treatment (crowns, fillings, bridges); endodontic (root canals); oral surgery (extractions, implants); prosthetics (dentures, partials); periodontic (controlling gum disease); and cosmetics (veneers, teeth whitening). He specializes in working with adults and families, harboring a reputation for being honest and personable.
Dr. Justin L. Rider obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale before receiving his dental degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. Prior to entering private practice, he served an advanced education in general dentistry residency at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and was also assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson for three years. In 2010, after completing an additional year of clinical and continuing education, Dr. Rider was recognized by the Air Force Specialty Code as an Advanced Clinical Dentist.
Dr. Riders postgraduate education provided him additional training in the areas of IV sedation, oral surgery, wisdom tooth extractions, dental implants, and orthodontics. This training allows him to provide his patients with more comprehensive treatment options in the comfort of their own dental office.
In his spare time, Dr. Rider is a volunteer and enjoys giving back to the community. He enjoys spending time outdoors while enjoying hiking, camping, swimming, and photography. Dr. Rider and his wife, Crystal, enjoy raising their young family in Tucson.
Audrey grew up in Tucson and loves living here. As a Dental Hygienist what she loves most is building a relationship with her patients. She believes every patient is an individual and treatment should be adjusted accordingly. The most satisfying part of her job is helping patients take control of their oral health and seeing the improvements in not only their oral health but their overall health as well. In her free time Audrey enjoys exploring many activities such as gardening, crocheting and watching true crime documentaries. She is also an animal lover and has both cats and dogs.
Jennie is a Dental Assistant and has worked in the dental field almost 32 years. She graduated from Pima Community College in 1985. Prior to her dental career she studied social welfare. She has been working as a Dental Assistant for 26 years. The thing she loves the most about her job is not only helping and caring for people but the relationship she gets to build with her patients. She is very committed to making sure her patients feel as comfortable as possible. She enjoys working with Tanque Verde Dental and helping patients receive the highest quality dental care as well as enabling them to have an enjoyable experience at the office. In her free time she enjoys reading, watching movies, swimming, volleyball, the outdoors, cooking, growing plants, and being a grandmother.
A family dentist serves patients of most ages, addressing their different oral health needs as they grow older. Patients can keep seeing the same family dentist or the same group of family dentists for decades. Family dentist practices function as primary care dentists and treat family members such as parents, children, and grandparents.
Family dentists work with both children and adults to care for these patients as they grow and change. These dentists emphasize patient involvement by providing accessible, continuous, patient-centered, and comprehensive care. The hallmarks of many family dentistry practices include services that benefit patients at all stages of life, such as:
Family dentists make a point of getting to know their patients. They encourage regular checkups and catch emerging issues such as cavities. They provide continuity of care even if patients do not see the same professional on each visit. Information such as medical histories, diagnoses, and treatment plans are less likely to fall through any cracks. Centralized paperwork and familiarity with medical history also help dentists pinpoint and treat various oral health issues.
A family dentist can practice alone, but some partner with other dentists. Whatever the case, a family dentist treats various needs. Patients often turn to their family dental practice for checkups, cleanings, cavity prevention and treatment, tooth decay deterrence, and gum disease prevention. Some practices may even provide orthodontic services, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and other types of specialized dentistry. When necessary, family dentists refer patients to specialized dentists for other types of treatment.
A patient's first visit to a family dentist will consist of a thorough physical examination to assess their needs and current dental health. This will involve a dental exam and updated X-rays. X-rays are particularly essential as they can diagnose and evaluate any potential issues that an exam cannot detect. Tanque Verde Dental will also perform a thorough dental cleaning as part of the first visit. Then, once completed, our team will discuss any X-ray results and devise a customized treatment plan to meet each patient's unique needs.
A. Family dentists treat most ages, caring for both children and senior citizens. If the practice includes a pediatric dentist, it might accept infant patients. Otherwise, a family dentist tends to see children once they are in kindergarten.
A. Most likely, yes. However, if the cavity is severe enough, family dentists may need to refer patients elsewhere for more specialized care. Regular checkups with your family dentist can help prevent cavities.
A. In general, each patient should visit once or twice a year. Dentists prefer to see children every six months. Meanwhile, adults with teeth in excellent condition might visit only once a year. People who are pregnant, undergoing chemotherapy, or dealing with serious health issues may need to visit their dentist more frequently than twice a year. We can help determine your unique risk profile.
By visiting us as soon as possible, our team can help get you the professional treatment you need. Instead of waiting around and allowing the symptoms to get worse, we can provide you with treatment options.
The last thing you want to do after a dental emergency develops is to drive longer than necessary to an emergency dentist because you were unable to find a qualified one near you. This guide provides useful tips to help you find an emergency dentist so that you can get the prompt treatment you need
The All-on-4 procedure can significantly improve one's oral health and appearance. However, in order to achieve both, it is necessary to go through the entire process, which is known to be involved. Once the procedure is complete, the patient should prepare to undergo a lengthy recovery process. Recovery tends to be lengthy because the dental
Few people realize how many common teeth issues can be addressed by a cosmetic dentist. Whether it is a feature of the appearance or trouble with biting and chewing, patients can find restorative and aesthetic treatments in cosmetic dentistry. This area of work focuses on improving an individuals tooth aesthetics in regards to position, shape,
When a person wants to improve the color or overall appearance of their teeth, a cosmetic dentist can provide numerous treatment options. One popular solution is enhancing the smile with dental veneers. These thin coverings are designed to fit over existing teeth to create a whiter, more symmetrical look. Patients with a variety of cosmetic