Dr. Maria Benefield was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved with her family to Florida when she was three years old. She relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992 and 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 was confirmed. In 2003, she graduated with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia, where she was a part of the Senior Honors Program in Oral Medicine. Dr. Benefield also received several awards, including an Excellence in Prosthodontics and an Outstanding Student award from the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.
In 2010, Dr. Benefield began her own practice in Sandy Springs, GA and then relocated her practice to Dunwoody in 2024. While the name of her practice remains Sandy Springs Dentistry, Dr. Benefield proudly serves the entire Metro Atlanta area.
In her free time, Dr. Benefield enjoys spending time with her husband, Shane, and their daughters, Kayla and Kylie. They love spending time outdoors and traveling together. Traveling is a passion of Dr. Benefield’s, as she appreciates the opportunity to explore different cultures and geographies. She also enjoys weight training and being in the company of family and friends.
“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