Maria Benefield, DMD, FAGD, PC, of Sandy Springs Restorative & General DentistryMaria Benefield, DMD, FAGD, PC

Dr. Maria Benefield has been in practice since 2003 after graduating with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. She received several awards, including an excellence in prosthodontics and an outstanding student award from the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, and she was a part of the Senior Honors Program in Oral Medicine.

Dr. Benefield moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992 from Florida. She was born in Bogota, Colombia, before moving to Florida when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Georgia State University with a BS in biology in 1999. While attending Georgia State University, she worked in a dental office as an orthodontic assistant, where her love for dentistry began.

In her free time, Dr. Benefield enjoys spending time with her husband, Shane, and their daughters, Kayla and Kylie. They enjoy the outdoors and traveling to new places. Dr. Benefield enjoys the company of her family and friends, traveling, and weight training. She enjoys the opportunity to explore different cultures and geographies.

Providing my patients with beautiful, healthy smiles and seeing the difference I can make in their lives is my passion. After practicing for so many years, I feel my patients are more like friends. I enjoy hearing about what is going on in their lives and catching up with them during their appointments. I am so fortunate to truly enjoy my profession, and I owe it to my patients that I get to see every day. I am aware that most people dread going to the dentist, so I try to give each patient a gentle touch that allows them to stay comfortable and feel secure in the dental care they are receiving.

Our office is staffed with very sweet and friendly people, filled with kindness and compassion. They are committed to working as a partner with each patient to maximize their dental health. My team enjoys what they do, and they are genuinely concerned about the well-being of each patient. We all want the best for them and will do everything we can to create a smile our patients will treasure for a lifetime. — Dr. Benefield

Professional Affiliations

Meet Our Team
We are excited to present our wonderful dental team! At Sandy Springs Restorative & General Dentistry, we pride ourselves on our compassionate service and make great efforts to make you comfortable and relaxed. Our team works with our dentist to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. We invite you to learn more about our skilled team and dental care in Atlanta, Georgia, or schedule an appointment with Dr. Maria Benefield by calling 404-252-1216 today!

Cass
Cass has been Dr. Benefield’s assistant since 2016. She came to our practice with years of experience in general dentistry and has extensive knowledge of various specialty areas of dentistry, including oral surgery. She graduated from Pensacola State College as an expanded function dental auxiliary (EFDA) and is certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). Cass loves to work directly with our patients to help them resolve their dental issues, transform their smiles and help them build their confidence. If you have ever had an appointment with Dr. Benefield, you have been privileged to see these two in action; they are a great team! Cass enjoys spending time with her family, reading, enjoying jazz music and volunteering her time to causes that are important to her.

Haley
Haley joined us during the summer of 2020 and has been a wonderful addition to our team! She attended college at the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry, then decided to pursue a career as a dental hygienist. Haley enjoys serving her community by volunteering for Georgia Mission of Mercy, a two-day, free dental care clinic that provides services to low-income patients biannually across the state of Georgia. She looks forward to continuing education opportunities and is an active member of the local chapter of the American Dental Hygiene Association. Haley’s favorite part of her career is educating her patients about their oral health while building trusting relationships. In her free time, Haley enjoys hiking, being on the lake, and spending time with her friends and dog, Zelda.

McKenzie
McKenzie began her career in dentistry 6 years ago as a dental assistant and loved it so much she decided to continue her education and become a hygienist. She is a graduate of Athens Technical College’s Dental Hygiene program. We feel that McKenzie’s experience and wide range of skills and knowledge are of great benefit to the practice and our patients! McKenzie loves connecting with patients to learn about their lives and families, while building meaningful relationships. Outside of the office, you might find McKenzie catching up on the latest episodes of her favorite reality TV show or enjoying the great outdoors with her boyfriend, Cody.

Brittany
Brittany, our office manager, has been with Dr. Benefield for many years. She began working at this location in 2016, and has her background in dental assisting, along with over 10 years of experience in the dental field. She graduated from Kennesaw State University and recently completed her Certificate in Leadership Studies. Brittany’s favorite thing about her job is how she has formed relationships with the patients over the years. Getting to know them and their families and helping to make each patient feel comfortable and cared for is important to her. Brittany is a mom of two boys, an avid reader, will always tell you about a podcast she is listening to and stays actively involved in her church community.

Nia
Nia, an Atlanta native, is the newest member of our team. She joined us in the summer of 2022 and is the face you see when you sign in for your appointment. She greets every patient with upbeat, positive energy and goes out of her way to make your experience pleasant and seamless from start to finish. Nia’s interest in dentistry grew out of a desire to help people. She loves getting to see the difference in someone’s smile and how that improves their confidence. Nia enjoys watching movies (scary ones are her favorite!), writing poetry and trying new foods. She loves spending time with her husband and two stepsons.