SARASOTA, Fla. —World Class Dentistry, a patient-centered cosmetic and implant dental practice in Sarasota that specializes in cutting-edge technology, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Dr. Jill Morris, an accredited cosmetic dentist, founded the practice in 1987 after graduating from the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
“Believe it or not, I couldn’t find an employer who would hire me as an associate,” said Dr. Morris, who initially hoped to join an already-established practice. “It was very rare to have women dentists at the time.”
In December, she learned of a dentist in Bradenton who was retiring and looking to sell his practice. Dr. Morris bought the practice, and on Jan. 3, she opened the doors of World Class Dentistry. Many of the patients stayed throughout the transition and still remain patients of the practice.
“We like to really get to know the patients and develop long-term relationships,” said Dr. Morris. “I love the fact that we can really do excellent dentistry for them.”
Formerly a general dental practice, Dr. Morris has transformed World Class Dentistry into a state-of-the-art cosmetic dental practice after studying and teaching full mouth reconstruction and aesthetics at the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and becoming an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
While teaching at LVI, Dr. Morris met her husband, Dr. Burr Bakke, a dental implantologist at the Dallas Center of Esthetic Dentistry. The couple first met in 2000, and three years later, Dr. Bakke relocated to Sarasota where he joined Dr. Morris at World Class Dentistry.
With the addition of Dr. Bakke’s expertise, World Class Dentistry is continually on the cutting edge of cosmetic surgery and implant dentistry. In 2014, Dr. Morris and Dr. Bakke began taking an even more holistic approach to dental medicine through the use of biologic dentistry and safe mercury removal practices after earning their doctorate of biologic dentistry and naturopathic physician degrees from the College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry.
Most recently, Dr. Morris and Dr. Bakke have been continuing to learn and expand their practice with a major focus on alternative orthodontics and myofunctional therapy.
Through myofucntional therapy, Dr. Morris and Dr. Bakke are helping adults overcome temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and sleep apnea while teaching children proper tongue position and breathing habits to stimulate proper growth of the upper jaw, resulting in beautiful chins, better facial development and straighter teeth many times eliminating the need for braces.
“We love figuring out really innovative technology to help patients reach their goals,” said Dr. Morris. “We try to get to the root of the problem. We’re not just putting a Band-Aid on the situation.”
In addition to expanding their technological base, Dr. Morris and Dr. Bakke have integrated their children into the business. Last year, Dr. Morris’ son, Kelton Johnson, and daughter, Sydney Johnson, got their dental lab technician degrees. Today, Kelton runs World Class Dentistry’s dental laboratory, which handles a lot of the practice’s digital technology.
Sydney recently received early acceptance to dental school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) where her older brother, Cameron Johnson, is in his second year of dental school.
“As World Class Dentistry continues on in the future, our children will come in and start seeing patients, which will allow me and Burr to continue to do more training and discover other advances,” said Dr. Morris.
About World Class Dentistry
Dr. Jill Morris opened the doors to World Class Dentistry® in 1987. She and her husband, Dr. Burr Bakke, have 60 years of combined talent and expertise. With advanced training and the latest equipment, the doctors are leaders in the field and teach many pioneering techniques. The team at World Class Dentistry can comprehensively treat a patient with a multitude of issues at the Sarasota facility, which maintains the quality control and streamlines treatment. With a focus on individualized patient care and connection, the doctors and their on-site dental laboratory technician offer implant surgery, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, biological dentistry and more.
Located at 3951 Swift Road in Sarasota, World Class Dentistry is one of only a small number of area practices that have a Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC)®, which is a machine that enables the doctors to fabricate and place exceptional restorations right in their Sarasota office. For more information, visit SarasotaDentist.com or call 941-451-5543.