Pearl Care Dental has cared for families from Ellensburg, WA, and its surrounding communities for over 40 years. Youll notice the Pearl Care Dental difference from the moment you walk through our door. With beautiful, serene views of the natural landscape and our caring, talented staff, youll feel more relaxed with each visit.

Dr. Cristina Bender and her team have dedicated themselves to delivering gentle, thorough dentistry with the use of the latest dental technology. We understand the connection between your oral health and your whole-body health and customize your care accordingly.

Dr. Cristina (Law) Bender was born and raised in Ellensburg. She graduated at the top of her class at Ellensburg High School and received a full-ride scholarship to attend the University of Washington where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology. Dr. Bender then attended the University of Washington School of Dentistry and completed a one-year AEGD (Advanced Education in Dental Residency) program in Toppenish with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

Dr. Bender is very excited to be back home in Ellensburg and serving as the new owner of Pearl Care Dental, providing services to the community in which she was raised. With her unique background and commitment to continuing education, Dr. Bender has advanced training in oral surgery, which allows her to provide advanced services to include surgical implants and extractions under IV sedation. Dr. Bender continually strives to ensure that all of her patients walk away with a great experience, knowing that they received quality dental care from a dentist who is compassionate, kind, honest, and straightforward.

Outside the dental office, Dr. Bender enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt, and their children, Mila, Sienna, and Austin. They enjoy trying new restaurants, camping, traveling, and spending time with family and friends and enjoys the little things Ellensburg has to offer.

A recent transplant to town, Dr. Iriff Ulep is from the Jersey Shore. Growing up, when she wasnt spending time with her five siblings, Dr. Ulep could be found playing basketball or volleyball. As an undergraduate, she decided to indulge her more artistic interests in hip hop dance and spoken word while working on her degree.

Dr. Ulep continued her academic studies in the northeast at Boston University where she pursued a Masters in Oral Health Sciences. Eventually, she made her way to Southern California where she earned her dental degree from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Here, her passion for community service paved her involvement in dental volunteer programs both locally and abroad in Mexico and Guatemala. While in school, Dr. Ulep also gained additional clinical experience through externships at the LAC+USC Medical Center Pediatric Dentistry Clinic and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast.She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Yakima Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry, and a Youth Ambassador for the Open Wide Foundation.

During her free time, Dr. Ulep can be found hiking, trying out new recipes, and teaching her adorable dog, Koda, new tricks. She is excited to be a part of the community and as a new resident to the area, she welcomes all recommendations on places to visit and things to do!

Dr. Kari Chellis joined Pearl Care Dental after she and her husband, Henry, and their dog, Frankie, relocated from Seattle to the mountains overlooking Lake Cle Elum. Before relocating, Dr. Chellis owned her own private practice in West Seattle for 25 years where she was passionate about providing gentle, caring and compassionate, wellness-focused, patient-centered family dentistry, as well as complex cosmetic and restorative dental solutions.

Recently, Dr Chellis has received Seattle Mets Top Dentists Award in 2014 through 2020. Dr. Kari started her dental career as a hygienist, graduate magna cum laude from Loma University before enrolling in the University of Washington School of Dentistry and receiving her D.D.S. degree in in 1992, again graduating magna cum laude.

During her training at the University of Washington, she received numerous awards including: American Equilibration Society for Excellence in Occlusion & TMJ, the Teledyne Hanau Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists Award, the David B. Law Award for Excellence in Pediatrics, the Womens Association of Women Dentists 1992 Award, and induction tothe National Dental Honor Society OmicronKappa Upsilon(OKU).Dr. Kari specializes in Restorative, Preventative & Cosmetic Dentistry, the patented DNA appliances to treat Sleep Apnea, Veneers, TMJ services, DNA Analysis of Periodontal Pathogens, PerioProtect trays, Invisalign, non-IV Conscious Sedation and Botox.

Her most recent passion has been her training with Dr. Dave Singh in Airway & Breathing, having been trained in his patented DNA appliances for both children & adults that stimulate the bodys own stem cells to regrow and remodel the midface allowing permanent change that opens the airway, thus to treat mild to moderate Sleep Apnea.

Dr. Chellis is passionate about helping patients prevent or heal the root cause of poor sleep and breathing, that can so dramatically affect our lives. When Dr. Chellis is not doing dentistry, she enjoys Cooking, Traveling, Reading, Music, Sewing, Jewelry Making, and spending time in the mountains!