Lower Valley Dental Associates: Not Just You’re Regular Dental Clinic
By: Lauri Revilla
The moment Dr. Melissa Uriegas walked through the door at Lower Valley Dental Associates in Brownsville, Texas; she knew she had to be part of that team. While completing her General Practice Residency Program at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, Uriegas was scouting dental practices in the Rio Grande Valley to continue her career as a dentist. The search was over when a mentor recommended Lower Valley Dental Associates and she drove down to Brownsville to meet the staff. “As soon as I walked in the door, I knew this was a special place and I would be so lucky to work with these people,” recalls Uriegas
After growing up in Edinburg, Dr. Melissa Uriegas left the Rio Grande Valley to attend dental school at the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston, Texas. She always knew that she wanted to come back to South Texas and serve the people in her community. When the time came to settle down in the Valley last summer, Lower Valley Dental Associates became the obvious choice for her. She was immediately drawn to the clinic’s high energy and wellness-oriented environment. “The environment is really happy and active,” explained Uriegas. “The LVDA team is motivated to do their best in everything that we do.”
Lower Valley Dental Associates is not your typical dental office. The practice’s founders, Dr. Claudia Rodriguez and Dr. J. Patrick Pirtle, met while in dental school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. They decided to establish a dental clinic in an area that had a great need for highly trained and experienced dentists. When they met Dr. Uriegas, they felt she would be a great fit with the team because of her positive attitude and extensive training. “One of the reasons we chose her was because everyone in our office doesn’t have just a dental degree, but also has some advanced training in an academic setting post dental school,” said Rodriguez.
Dr. Rodriguez is one of the very few Board-certified pediatric dentists in Brownsville and is the only one that can practice sedation dentistry in the area. Dr. Pirtle completed post dental school training in prosthodontics and specializes in the restoration and replacement of teeth. Lower Valley Dental Associates is the only practice in the area that practices hospital dentistry and is able to provide dental treatment for medically compromised patients. “Everybody here is a step above and beyond,” explains Dr. Rodriguez. “Everybody is very motivated and wants to take it a step further than just your regular dental visit.”
The entire team has a strong commitment to not only providing quality dental care, but also promoting prevention and a healthy lifestyle with their patients. The office offers state-of-the art equipment and technology with digital X-rays, to reduce the effects of radiation by up to 70 percent, and 17-inch monitors in all operatories. Services offered by the clinic range from basic procedures, such as cleanings and examinations, to more complex procedures like root canal therapy, extractions, periodontal therapy and orthodontics.
Lower Valley Dental Associates’ commitment to the Rio Grande Valley doesn’t just stop there. The clinic’s staff regularly participates in numerous community activities and charities throughout the year. Patients can expect to run into their dentists at local marathons, walks and other wellness events. Every staff member at the clinic understands that it’s not just about providing quality dental care, but about encouraging a holistic approach to health in every single one of their patients.
Lower Valley Dental Associates are located at: 4920 N. Expressway, Suite E Brownsville, TX 78256. For more information, contact: (956) 350-0059 or staff@LowerValleyDental.com
