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Albuquerque Family Dental Practice - About Us

We here at Albuquerque Family Dental Practice are dedicated to providing our patients with the best, most comprehensive dental care possible, in a warm, friendly and caring environment.  We have been doing this for our patients in Albuquerque since early 1978 and have many very happy, smiling, and pleased patients.  They know that they have taken care of their oral health and now they are putting their best smile forward.  They know that their mouths are as healthy and their smiles are as attractive as they can be.  It gives us great pleasure to do this and we feel that our patients are our friends and we feel that the family atmosphere of our office carries over into that patient-provider relationship.

The following is a brief description of our staff so that you may know who we are and how we came to be here:

Dr. Thomas Matteson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and graduated from the University of Illinois, College of Dentistry in Chicago in June of 1969.  While a dental school senior he was invited to become an instructor in the operative dentistry course, which teaches students how to restore decayed or damaged teeth.  Dr. Matteson taught both the didactic and clinical portions of this course to the lower classmen, and he found it to be quite an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  

After graduation he enlisted as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, and served for two and one-half years at the Naval Training Center at Great Lakes, Illinois.  During that time and aside from his usual duties which included operative dentistry, he participated in rotations in the various specialties, including Periodontics (treatment of gum and bone problems), Endodontics (root canals), and Oral Surgery (extractions).  He also gave lectures to new recruits on oral health care and procedures and served in the screening clinic for new recruits where they were first examined after their enlistment.

After serving in the Navy, Dr. Matteson served with the State of Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Dental Health, and operated a mobile dental clinic throughout the southern part of the State of Illinois.  While on this mobile dental clinic Dr. Matteson treated indigent school children, mostly third graders, who were deemed to be financially in need by the school nurses. 

After one year Dr. Matteson entered private practice, and practiced from early 1973 through the end of 1978 in Sterling, Illinois.  While practicing in Sterling he was a member of the Whiteside-Lee Dental Society, and later served as the secretary of that society.

Dr. Matteson has been engaged in the private practice of dentistry in Albuquerque since November 1, 1978.  During that time he has been a member in good standing of the American Dental Association, the New Mexico Dental Association, and the Albuquerque District Dental Society.  He served on the Peer Review board during one year of his membership, and while on that board helped to settle several disputes between patients and dentists without the parties having to resort to legal arbitration.  He has also attended most of the dental society meetings since first joining the society and he has actively participated in a great many of their activities.

In December of 1997 Dr. Matteson became a CPR instructor and helped to train others in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

In addition to his dental career, Dr. Matteson is a member of the First Presbyterian church in Albuquerque.  In 1982 he helped organize a model train club called the Albuquerque Society of HO Modular Engineers and has served as president of the club for two different terms.  The club sets up model train displays in various malls and other places for the enjoyment of the public as well as for their own enjoyment, of course.  He also enjoys traveling and outdoor activities and sports such as tennis and golf and football, as well as attending professional football, baseball, etc.  

Dr. Matteson’s wife Consy has taught in the Albuquerque Public schools as well as at Sunset Mesa School.  They have raised two children, Ann who has received her college degree from the University of Victoria, and Hunter who is a graduate of the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Matteson is also a member of the Delta Dental Insurance Board and has served in that capacity for six years.

The five lovely ladies of our office staff include Vicky, our receptionist who is a 2002 graduate of PIMA Institute here in Albuquerque and has been with us for nine years.  The first assistant Charleina is a 2003 graduate of Southwest Health Career Institute and has been the primary dental assistant in our office since that time.  Janell is a 2001 graduate of PIMA Institute also and she has been here part time since then, when not furthering her education toward a career in dental hygiene.

Our hygienists include Melanie who is a graduate of UNM Dental Hygiene School and who has been a very valuable member of our staff for over fifteen years.  She is also the head of the dental assisting school at CNM and directs the training program there.  Our newest staff member is Katie who graduated in 2004 from John A. Logan dental hygiene school in southern Illinois.  She is a native of Missouri and relocated here recently.  She is very personable and a very valuable addition to our dental hygiene assisting staff.

So as you can see our staff has a good deal of experience and training and we are here to provide for your dental care and comfort.  Please call Vicky at 884-8000 and she will be happy to answer any questions and to schedule you an appointment.

A beautiful smile is always in style!