Dr. Kayla Ellis, DDS

Dr. Ellis is a family and restorative dentist at Redmond Way Dentistry in Redmond, Washington, where she provides comprehensive dental care with a focus on preventive, restorative, and digital dentistry. She is committed to helping patients feel informed, comfortable, and confident throughout every stage of treatment, combining clinical precision with clear communication to create a positive dental experience for patients of all ages.

Her clinical interests include tooth-colored fillings, dental crowns, CEREC same-day crowns, simple tooth extractions, scaling and root planing (SRP), implant restorations, digital treatment planning, and comprehensive preventive care. Dr. Ellis has extensive experience using digital dentistry to improve efficiency and accuracy, including CEREC CAD/CAM technology for intraoral scanning and same-day crown design, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) interpretation, and digitally guided restorative workflows. Whether restoring a damaged tooth, replacing missing teeth, or helping patients improve their oral health after years away from the dentist, she emphasizes personalized treatment plans designed around each patient’s goals and long-term health.

Education & Training

Dr. Ellis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor before completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry. During dental school, she was recognized for her academic excellence as a member of Omega Kappa Upsilon National Honor Dental Society and earned Dean’s List honors throughout her dental education. She also contributed to oral health research as a published co-author on research examining oral cancer cell metabolism, published through Fortune Journals and indexed in PubMed.

Before joining Redmond Way Dentistry, Dr. Ellis practiced in a high-volume, technology-driven dental practice where she provided comprehensive restorative and surgical care while working extensively with digital dentistry, CEREC CAD/CAM systems, CBCT imaging, implant restorations, and comprehensive treatment planning. She joined Redmond Way Dentistry in 2026, bringing experience in both traditional and digital workflows.

Why Dentistry

Dr. Ellis’ journey into dentistry began during her own orthodontic treatment as a child. She remembers an orthodontist who took the time to explain every step of the process, encouraged her curiosity, and demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for the profession. Those experiences sparked an early interest that eventually became a career.

Her background in psychology continues to shape the way she practices dentistry today. She believes listening carefully is just as important as providing excellent clinical care, and she strives to ensure every patient feels heard, understood, and actively involved in treatment decisions.

Some of her most meaningful moments as a dentist have come from helping patients overcome fear and regain confidence. One experience that stands out involved providing comprehensive treatment, including fillings, crowns, and an extraction, for an extremely anxious patient who successfully completed care after building trust over time. Another was helping a 76-year-old patient with advanced periodontal disease through full-mouth extractions and the delivery of complete dentures, allowing the patient to smile confidently again.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Dr. Ellis believes every new patient deserves an unhurried, informative first appointment. Visits begin with a comprehensive examination, digital X-rays, a periodontal evaluation, an oral cancer screening, and a discussion of your oral health goals. She carefully explains her findings, answers questions in plain language, and develops a personalized treatment plan so patients understand every recommendation before moving forward.

Outside the Office

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Ellis enjoys expressing her creativity outside of dentistry through writing poetry and participating in spoken word performances. She hopes to one day publish a collection of her own poetry. She also enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, from country and pop to indie folk, and appreciates discovering new artists across many genres.