I graduated Dental school from Indiana University in 1998. Immediately following graduation, I was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Dental Corp. where I spent my first year finishing a General Practice Residency at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. I experienced Hospital Dentistry, more exposure to dental specialty treatments, and trauma. I was then deployed with a SeaBee battalion deploying to Puerto Rico and Okinawa. Following my service, I came back to Indiana to a group practice in South Bend and decided that I wanted to have a more hands-on, personal practice. That is when I invested in this practice in 2002. I felt with my vast experiences in General Practice Residency, Navy and civilian training that I could build a great practice by providing quality, caring, comprehensive dentistry.

My commitment to cutting-edge is clear, but also tempered by the knowledge of what has been proven and successful. I am most proud of the positive changes that I have brought to my patients lives. We have maintained the highest level of integrity, amidst busy daily schedules and often challenging situations. I recommend the best, as I would for myself and my own family.

I am involved in every step of the dental experience. I am available to clients and staff, ensuring the highest level of client care. There is true joy and sense of fulfillment when a client positively embraces our treatments. It reminds me why Ive chosen the dental profession as a life-long endeavor. The fun factor kicks in and encourages my staff and I to continue our commitment to successful client relationships. I am especially proud of our team and their commitment to you through caring attitudes and continuous, advanced training. Our professional team wants the experience to be as comfortable and positive as it can possibly be.

Congratulations to Dr. Watkins on achieving his Diplomat level training with the International Dental Implant Association. This is the highest distinction achievable in dental implant and bone grafting training. This process has taken over 2 years, more than 250 continuing education hours in lecture, cadaver and live patient training with Dr. Garg and Implant Seminars. Dr. Watkins is most proud of the live patient experiences as those cases were donated to underserved Dominican Republic citizens that would never have been able to access the high level of implant related care that he and his colleagues provided at no cost. On two separate occasions, over 2.5 million dollars of treatment were donated to those amazing people by dentists just like Dr. Watkins learning their craft and supervised by established, internationally regarded professionals from all over the world. Dr. Watkins completed his case presentations, didactic and clinical hours on the 5th of February. We are proud to provide our patients with ever expanding treatment options by training with the best to provide the best care possible.

'I have been a patient for several years. The quality of care is exceptional. The doctors and staff are very professional and caring. The facilities and equipment are state of the art. I recommend Dr. Watkins for all dental needs.'

The medical field has always fascinated me in the 16 years I worked in it and I thought it would be fun and interesting to learn about dentistry. I really enjoy the people I work with; they are like a second family. Friendships here have grown. Away from the office I enjoy swimming, beach outings, hanging out with my kids and watching movies.

Originally from North Carolina, I have been a resident of Indiana since 2019. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my two nieces, watching sports and practicing yoga. I am an avid Notre Dame football fan! Go Irish!

I have always love going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned and this spiked my interest in dentistry. In high school I attended the career center for their dental program and after six months I knew I wanted my career to be in dental assisting. I am a Certified Dental Assistant and have been with Dr. Watkins since 2005. I enjoy meeting new patients and helping them with whatever dental need they have. My favorite procedure is implant surgeries. Days away from the office I love spending time with my family at the beach or we enjoy going camping.

I am a Certified Dental Assistant. I have always had a desire to help patients improve their smile, educate them on their oral health and maintain their health. I enjoy getting to know each one of my patients and how every patient is a different case. There is never the same case. Everyday brings something new whether it be with a patient or learning more knowledge about dentistry. When not in the office I enjoy crafting, wood projects and spending time with my family and friends.

When I was young, I was a patient of my cousins while she was in dental assisting school. Ever since then I told my parents I wanted my career to be in dentistry. I have been a hygienist since 1996. I enjoy listening and helping to feel more at ease with their dental visit and seeing patients gain the power to improve their lives. Outside of the office I enjoy taking trips on my motorcycle, sometimes they are short day trips; seeing where the road takes us. Other times we plan week long trips and explore other states.

As a general practitioner we take great pride in being a comprehensive dental clinic. That means that we are able to cover the vast majority of any dental service you are likely to need. And for those few occasions where an outside specialist might be needed, we have a long-term, established set of respected and trustworthy practitioners that we have monitored and that we continue to work with very closely.

Our new facility was built in 2012 on the Riverwalk. To ensure that highest level of quality and care to current and future patients we realized that we needed to build a suitable clinic from the ground up. That way we could design and layout a space that would be exactly what our patients need for a comfortable, relaxed and efficient dental experience. We are proud, and relieved, to have finally completed this milestone. We now occupy a beautiful, custom-built dental clinic located at 205 E. Jackson Ave in Elkhart, Indiana.

Simply put, the main benefit is that an implant looks and acts like a natural tooth. This makes for tremendous convenience-no dentures to remove or messy adhesives to deal with. They are also great for the daily functions, such as eating and speech. Dentures are prone to slipping within the mouth, implants are fixed to the jaw and one can speak without fear or worry that they might shift.

Implants have a very high success rate. Factors such as general state of health, bone density and the location of the implant in the jaw all matter but in general implants have a success rate of up to 98% and will last a lifetime.

Implants can be used for a single missing tooth or comprehensive full mouth reconstruction. Your level of health is a factor, but if one can undergo a routine dental extraction, is not suffering from severe gum disease and has adequate bone density then dental implants are rarely a problem. Some physical factors such as: long, heavy histories of smoking, chronic disorders such as diabetes or heart disease or patients that have undergone radiation therapy to the head/neck area will need to be evaluated on an individual basis. However, in 9 out of 10 cases there is never a problem. Some patients may be better candidates for mini dental implants than traditional implants. It is our firm policy that we will never recommend implants if we feel that they may not be right for you.

Every plan varies, but generally dental implants are not always covered, or covered only in part, by dental insurance. In any case, we are very familiar with insurance policies and coverage. Please give us a call and we will be glad to help you determine your coverage.

If you have lost most or all of your teeth, you need a stable solution which can restore the proper form and function of your smile. In the past, the only option for replacing a full arch of teeth was dentures. However, traditional dentures often slip or slide out of place during normal daily activities, causing discomfort and embarrassment. Implant-supported dentures, in contrast, stay in place and allow you to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.

At Watkins Family Dentistry in Elkhart, IN, we offer full-mouth implant dentistry with All-on-6 dental implants. By strategically placing six dental implants, Dr. Bruce Watkins can create a secure base for a full denture.

Tooth loss is a common condition, especially in individuals over the age of 65. In fact, over 25 percent of seniors over age 65 have no remaining teeth. Losing most or all of your teeth affects more than the appearance of your smile. Widespread tooth loss makes it harder to eat and speak, as well as undermines your oral health.

When you cannot chew properly, it is harder to consume foods with high nutritional value, such as whole fruit and vegetables. In addition, losing a tooth begins a process known as jawbone atrophy. Without tooth roots to stimulate the jawbone, the tissue begins to deteriorate. Left untreated, atrophy can lead to facial collapse, a condition which makes you look much older than you actually are. Replacing lost teeth with dental implants can improve your nutrition and halt the effects of jawbone atrophy for improved overall health.

Conventional implant placement is vertical. In contrast, the All-on-6 method takes advantage of your remaining bone tissue by placing the back implants at an angle. Since the frontal area of the jaw has denser bone, this method can provide increased stability for patients who have lost bone tissue in the back of the jaw.

On the day of your implant procedure, we will provide anesthesia and sedation to ensure your comfort. Then, Dr. Watkins will make small incisions into your gum tissue and precisely place six titanium posts into your jaw. If you qualify for immediate placement, he can then attach a temporary denture to your implants.

Typically, implants take about three to six months to fuse properly with the bone tissue. Once you have completely healed, Dr. Watkins can replace your temporary restoration with the final device for a fully restored smile.