Meet Our Highly Skilled Dentists

Dr. Adam Hellen

Dr. Adam Hellen was born and raised in Toronto and has deep roots in both dentistry and the Scarborough community. As a fourth-generation dentist in the Hellen family, Dr. Adam quite literally grew up around Cliffcrest Family Dental and is proud to continue his family’s long tradition of caring for patients in the community.

Dr. Adam graduated with honours from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry in 2015 and joined Cliffcrest Family Dental that same year. Since then, he has enjoyed caring for patients and families in the Scarborough community and building long-term relationships with his patients.

Dr. Adam enjoys all aspects of general and family dentistry, with particular interests in restorative dentistry and Invisalign clear aligner treatment. He is also certified to provide nitrous oxide sedation, helping make dental treatment more comfortable and relaxed for patients who may feel anxious about visiting the dentist.

Dr. Adam believes in taking the time to explain treatment options and helping patients feel comfortable and confident about their dental care.

Outside of the office, Adam lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons. He always seems to have a new project on the go, so feel free to ask him what he’s working on next!

Dr. Christi Steele

Dr. Christi Steele is a general dentist at Cliffcrest Family Dental in Scarborough, Ontario, where she has been caring for patients and families since 2019. She is passionate about providing compassionate, comprehensive dental care and building long-term relationships with her patients and their families.

Originally from Chatham, Ontario, Dr. Steele completed her Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) at Western University before earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. During dental school, she was awarded the prestigious Dean’s Gold Medal as well as the Bridget Wang Memorial Comprehensive Care Program Award and the Harold Keith Box Prize – Gold Medal, awarded annually to the most outstanding graduating student in Clinical Periodontics.Following graduation, Dr. Steele remained involved with the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry as a clinical instructor, helping to educate and mentor future dentists.

Dr. Steele enjoys all aspects of general and family dentistry, with a focus on providing personalized, comprehensive care for patients of all ages. She particularly enjoys restorative dentistry and working with children. She believes in taking the time to help patients understand their oral health and treatment options so they can feel comfortable and confident in their dental care.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Steele is a former high-ranking competitive pairs figure skater and an avid runner who has completed five marathons. She lives in Toronto and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and their family dog.

Dr. Gary Elman

Dr. Gary Elman was born in Montreal and moved to Toronto with his family in the late 70s. He attended the University of Toronto, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce. His career then took a sharp turn after graduation, when he decided to become a dentist.

Gary joined the Cliffcrest Family Dental team in 1987. He divides his time between here and his other office, located in Downsview. Dr. Elman has participated in many research projects throughout his career and has contributed to several papers regarding caries detection.

Married in 1984, Gary and his wife have 3 daughters, a son-in-law, and one grandson. He is an avid skier and scuba diver. Over his career, Gary has held leadership positions in many not-for-profit organizations including Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, and Beth Tzedec Synagogue. Gary is a recipient of Alpha Omega’s Meritorious Service Award and is a Fellow of The American College of Dentists.

Dr. Hayley Benudiz

Dr. Hayley Benudiz grew up in Toronto and completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University before earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. During dental school, she was recognized on the Dean’s List, an academic distinction awarded to students ranking in the top 10% of their class.

Dr. Hayley enjoys all aspects of general and family dentistry, with a particular interest in restorative dentistry. She has completed additional training in implant restoration and is certified to provide nitrous oxide sedation. She enjoys caring for patients of all ages, including children, and strives to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for every patient.

Dr. Hayley understands that visiting the dentist can be stressful for some patients and has a particular interest in helping those who may feel nervous or anxious about dental treatment. She takes the time to listen to her patients, explain their treatment options and help them feel at ease throughout their dental care.

Dr. Hayley is a member of the Ontario Dental Association and Alpha Omega Dental Society and is committed to continuing education and providing comprehensive, patient-centred dental care.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Hayley enjoys workout classes, spending time outdoors, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr. Lauren Cait

Dr. Lauren was born and raised in Toronto and earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry in 2025.

Dr. Lauren enjoys all aspects of general dentistry, with particular interests in restorative and emergency dentistry. She is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centred care and strives to create a welcoming and comfortable environment where patients feel heard and at ease. Dr. Lauren is also certified to provide nitrous oxide sedation, which can help make dental treatment a more relaxed experience for patients who may feel nervous or anxious about visiting the dentist.

During dental school, Dr. Lauren participated in a dental mission trip to Jamaica, where she had the opportunity to provide dental care to underserved communities. The experience further strengthened her commitment to helping others and providing compassionate dental care to patients from all backgrounds.

Dr. Lauren is a member of the Ontario Dental Association and is committed to continuing education and staying current with advances in dentistry.

Outside of the office, Dr. Lauren loves staying active. She enjoys skiing, playing sports, travelling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Dr. Stephen Abrams

Dr. Stephen Abrams was born and raised in Toronto, attended the University of Toronto, and graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry in 1980. It was at U of T that he met Dr. Warren Hellen, his partner and co-founder of Cliffcrest Family Dental Office.

With over 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Abrams is active within the dental profession. He is a member of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity and has honorary fellowships in various dental societies, including Pierre Fauchard Academy, American College of Dentists and Academy of Dentistry International.

As 20-year chair of the Ontario Dental Association's Dental Benefits Committee, Dr. Abrams has participated in the negotiation of many government-sponsored dental programs., addressing issues such as access to care and the needs of high-risk children and adults and children with special needs. A 2008 international symposium organized by Dr. Abrams was instrumental in the design of the Ontario's Healthy Smiles Program.

In 2012, Dr. Abrams in collaboration with a professor at U of T's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering introduced the dental profession to The Canary System - a non-invasive laser-based device for detection and monitoring of caries (decay) and erosion in teeth. As a senior member of the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) and International Association of Dental Research (IADR), Dr. Abrams has presented multiple papers on the detection of tooth decay using The Canary System.

Dr. Abrams has published over 150 papers and 2 book chapters in a number of international publications on topics including early tooth decay detection, prevention of tooth decay, dentures, restorative dentistry, and dental program design. He continues to lecture at dental schools across North America on the topic of detection and management of tooth decay. Recently, he chaired an international symposium designed to engage the research community and dental profession on the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation.

He was one of the founding board members of ACCERTA Claim Corporation, a dental and pharmacy claims management company. His role on the board was to look at how to design, administer and implement health programs.

In appreciation of his dedication and hard work, Dr. Abrams has been the recipient of several awards for community service, these include Canada's125 Commemorative Medal of Community Service (1992), the ODA's Barnabus Day Award for distinguished service to the profession (2002), Alpha Omega Humanitarian Award (2014), and SNAPD Award for service to the Scarborough community (2017).

Treating many generations of patients, Dr. Abrams continues to learn and educate others in all facets of dental and overall health. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Rosette, and their daughter, Tamara. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, lecturing, and sharing knowledge.

Dr. Warren Hellen

Dr. Hellen was born and raised in Toronto and attended the University of Toronto. Upon graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry in 1980, he co-founded Cliffcrest Family Dental with his dental school classmate, Dr. Stephen Abrams.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Hellen has forged strong bonds with members of the Scarborough community and values his relationships with many generations of patients that have become a part of the greater Cliffcrest Family Dental family.

A member of the Ontario Dental Association, Dr. Hellen has been active in the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity throughout his career. He also has co-authored several articles in various international dental publications.

For Dr. Hellen, dentistry is truly a family affair. When he graduated from UofT, he became the 4th Hellen to practise dentistry. Since then, his son, Dr. Adam Hellen, has become the 5th Hellen dentist (4th generation!) and Warren is proud to have Adam working alongside him at Cliffcrest Family Dental. Warren’s father, Dr. Harry Hellen, worked at Cliffcrest for a few years before his retirement and his sister, Laura, has been the Cliffcrest office manager since 1986. Dr. Hellen is proud be part of a group of dentists who have been caring for the dental health of Torontonians for over 90 years.

Dr. Hellen lives in Richmond Hill with his wife, Ellen. His adult children all live in the GTA, as do his 5 grandsons, who he spends time with whenever possible. An avid cyclist and runner, Dr. Hellen enjoys spending time outdoors and with family and friends.

Dr. Ryan Margel

Dr. Ryan Margel, DMD, MS, FRCD(C) is our Endodontist who specializes in root canals. Originally from Toronto, he graduated with distinction from York University with a major in Mathematics. In 2009, Dr. Margel obtained his dental degree from The University of Pennsylvania. He then went on to work as a general dentist for two years prior to embarking on a two-year specialty program at Marquette University in Endodontics. His Masters thesis investigated the anatomical complexities of molar root canals. Dr. Margel is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, traveling, and spending time with his wife, two daughters, and one son.

Dr. Michael Coyne

Following his undergraduate degree in BioMedical Sciences at The University of Guelph, Dr. Coyne completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at The University of Western Ontario in 2018. After one year of practising dentistry, he moved to Vancouver to pursue studies in Periodontics at the University of British Columbia.

During his residency, Dr. Coyne was appointed the chief resident of his program and earned teaching, research, and clinical proficiency awards by UBC’s Faculty of Dentistry. He successfully defended his Masters of Craniofacial Sciences and completed his Periodontal residency in 2022.

Dr. Coyne’s passion in periodontics includes digital dentistry, implant therapy, and teaching the next generation of aspiring periodontists.

In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors, woodworking, and connecting with his family and friends across the country.