Dr. Stephanie Lee DDS is an exceptionally knowledgeable and highly skilled dentist who has earned my complete respect and trust. She stays current with the latest developments and incorporates advanced imaging technology into her practice. At a personal level, she explains all of the treatment options, tells you which she recommends and, importantly, why. She further explains her reasoning as she works, including when she encounters something unexpected, so you always understand what is happening and what to expect. I value her honesty, thoroughness, and genuine care, and have complete confidence in her judgment. While Dr. Lee's expertise and thoughtful approach are the foundation of the practice, Pearl, the office manager, keeps the office running efficiently and creates a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The office is clean and well organized. Angel is excellent at dental cleanings--highly skilled and meticulous. The dental assistants to Dr. Lee are impeccable. My family has trusted Science of Smiles for more than 25 years, and I recommend them wholeheartedly. read more

So happy to have found Dr Lee! She is very thorough with her exam and gives you a comprehensive assessment for your teeth. She is also very kind and takes time to answer any questions you may have. It's so hard to find a trustworthy dentist who is knowledgeable and highly skilled! Highly recommend her as a dentist! read more

I love Dr. Lee. She is the most detailed oriented dentist I've ever met. she'll study your teeth and give you a short and long term plan. I love that she uses a holistic and conservative approach. I really hated gking to the dentist as a kid, but she really helps calm my nerves and make sure I don't feel the angst when I'm there. I'm very happy and really trust her to keep my teeth healthy. i dont live close by anymore (a flight away lol) but still come back for her. im so glad she can help make a crown and fill my cavities all while im visiting during Thanksgiving break. also, she has the warmest staff too! jill and Pearl were really helpful. the reminders before my appt was so helpful too! btw.... one of the reasons why I love Dr Lee is she has state-of-the-art equipment. the digital scanner for my teeth is so cool. The office feels and is very professional, clean, and modern! There's a small parking lot and plenty street parking. She is located on the second floor. read more

Science of Smiles - Cosmetic Dentists Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I woke up on Christmas morning to discover I had a cracked tooth. Living in the Palm Springs area, I still haven't found a dentist I trust, so I called my dentist of over 40 years in Pasadena--Dr. Stephanie Lee. The voicemail said the office was closed for the holidays and wouldn't reopen until January 7th, but for emergencies, we were instructed to call Dr. Lee directly. I honestly didn't expect a response, but to my surprise, Dr. Lee called me back within 15 minutes--wow. I explained the situation, and she said she would put together a crew to help. About 30 minutes later, she called again and told me she could see me the following Tuesday. I was incredibly grateful. When I arrived on Tuesday the 30th, I was warmly greeted by Pearl, whom I've known for over 40 years. She was there handling administrative duties, and Jill, the dental assistant, made me feel comfortable throughout the entire visit. Of course, Dr. Lee was there as well, and I thanked all of them for coming in during the holidays--it truly meant so much. Dr. Lee carefully assessed the situation and confirmed that I needed a crown. Using state-of-the-art equipment, she was able to prep the tooth and create a new ceramic crown efficiently and expertly. When you love what you do, it shows--and Dr. Lee certainly does. This experience was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. I can't thank Dr. Lee and her team enough for their professionalism, dedication, and kindness. read more

I do not like going to the dentist. But Dr Lee and Dr. Stender and their team of hygienists do everything they can to make sure that I am well cared for. This is an office that knows their patients and is intent of giving excellent care. Front office staff is professional and kind as well. read more

Consistently, Dr. Stephanie Lee achieves the highest of standards. Today's manufacture of a crown and its installation called for consummate care. And she provided that, along with her reassuring manner. Much appreciated. read more

Today I had a filling done with Dr. Stephanie Lee. She is awesome, professional, caring, intelligent, and her work is excellent. Her assistant is great too. The front desk is courteous and efficient. Thank you all at the Science of Smiles for making my visit great! read more

I stopped going to Science of Smiles after they stopped accepting my insurance, and I subsequently moved out of the area. That said, I had an excellent experience here and still recommend them wholeheartedly. Dr. Stender is, without question, the best dentist I've had as an adult. He was gentle, caring, and never pushed unnecessary treatments. After dealing with other dental offices that felt more like retail than healthcare, this was a refreshing and reassuring change. Every visit was professional, comfortable, and respectful. If circumstances were different, I'd still be a patient today. Highly recommend. read more

Dr. Stephanie Lee is probably the best dentist I have ever had. The Office Manager Pearl is amazing as well, Angel and everyone else is very courteous and professional. Unfortunately Dr. Lee is out-of-network with my insurance so I cannot have all my needed dental work done there. I just simply can't afford it all due to my fault, I just let my dental work go for too long. But whenever I can afford it I will be back! Thank you Dr. Lee to you and your amazing staff! A+++ read more

I highly recommend going to Science of Smiles for three reasons: the place, the people and their professionalism! I've been a patient here for the last couple of years. It's a convenient location, and the office is welcoming, clean and tidy. Dr. Stephanie Lee is caring, considerate and thorough. Alongside Dr. Lee, the hygienists are detailed and highly skilled in giving quality teeth cleanings. The support staff are knowledgeable and make it a seamless process with scheduling and handling insurance. Most importantly, they are always looking out for what's best for my teeth health and receptive to feedback. read more

The staff is always friendly and professional. My appointment was timely and pain free per usual.

Dr. Stephanie P. Lee is kind, caring, and incredibly skilled. She takes the time needed to make sure her patients understand all the treatment options. My case is complicated by psoriatic arthritis and decades of immune suppression. I have three joint replacements, as well as recent sinus and brain surgery. Dr. Lee proactively reads my case notes, as well as current research on the myriad drugs I am required to take. She is also more than willing to consult with my rheumatologist and infectious disease specialist on the best long-term dental treatment for me. There is no other dentist I trust more than Dr. Lee. It is an additional pleasure that her assistant is both highly skilled and kind. The office staff at Science of Smiles takes care to greet patients warmly by name, and operate with wonderful efficiency. read more

The Best Dental Care I am so Thankful that I was blessed to find. at Science of Smile I recieved Excellent Dental Care the Best of Care. Dr Stephanie Lee took great care of a difficult tooth extraction Dr. Lee because she is so good and experienced she did the extraction with ease for me. Dr. Lee is kind, thoughtful and informed me. There is a Dear Lady who assisted Dr. Lee I do not know her name she was very kind and very helpful. Science of Smile has the kind caring and helpful Staff. I also Love and can see that there is great care of Office and is comfortable and well cared for. I was seeking for great dental care and I found it to be at Science of Smile THEY ARE THE BEST ! read more

Hands down, this is the best dentistry in Southern California. My family gets exceptional care from start to finish. Pearl and the rest of the front desk team is efficient, friendly, professional and always willing to help. The dental hygienists are all outstanding--thorough, gentle and clearly skilled at what they do. Dr. Lee and Dr. Stender are absolutely top-notch. Knowledgeable, compassionate, and genuinely invested in my dental health. They always take the time to listen, explain my options clearly and provide care that feel both personal and expert-level. This office is a gem in Pasadena, we drive 50 miles to see them!! read more

As a long time patient, I can speak to the consistent high quality care from Science of Smiles. I appreciate the minimally invasive approach, knowledgeable and caring staff, and the familiar faces give me confidence that everything is well managed. I do not hesitate to refer friends and family. read more

I love getting my teeth cleaned. It's the only doctor's appointment that I affirmatively look forward to, and I am so grateful to have found this office. All the wonderful ladies at the front desk, from Maricella to Pearl, and Dr. Lee are so warm and welcoming and professional. And Angel, whom I see pretty often to do my cleanings... let me just say that that man has changed my life. It's not an overstatement. He taught me how to brush my teeth correctly and floss my teeth correctly and what type of toothbrush to use and how (electric is NOT a panacea, and certainly not for your gums!)... you wouldn't think that an adult would need be retaught these things, but I did! I had been doing it incorrectly my entire life, the result being that my gums would bleed every time I got my teeth cleaned.... Not anymore! My gums have never been happier, the happiest after a visit with him. Angel is so thorough, meticulous and obsessed with getting every little plague particle off my teeth... thank you Jesus for this man! He makes my teeth literally sparkle. I leave his chair feeling like a million bucks. Do yourself a favor and book an appointment at this office. Ask for Angel... your smile deserves it. read more

I was referred to Science of Smiles by my sister and I was so happy I took the leap and made an appointment. The experience was great from beginning to end. They text me my new patient forms and I was able to fill it out before my appointment. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. They went over my insurance coverage and answered all my many questions. Angel my hygienist did a fantastic job, I've never had a cleaning like that before. My teeth feel so clean. Dr. Lee was very knowledgeable and detail oriented when explaining my treatment to me. I would highly recommend this science Of Smiled. read more

I went to Science of Smiles a few months ago for a locked jaw. I want to at least start out with that they treated me well. My issue is with the outrageous misdiagnosis. They took me in, ran tests and scans. I waited a week for results and Dr.Stender told me I have two displaced discs and that surgery is my only option. I WAS DEVASTATED! Told me it's probably gonna be over a $120K procedure which would need a specialist. WHAT?! Gave me a copy of my scans and sent me on my way completely shell shocked and distraught. I have since went to a number of other specialists to get a second and third opinion , and ALL of them are scratching their heads on why surgery was his first recommendation. I went to one TMD dentist who took a 3D scan of my whole skull. He told me my discs are sitting fine on my jaw. Left one had a little damage but it's not bad, he gave me a PRP shot in the jaw for healing and said to continue physical therapy. I am MUCH MUCH better since then. My jaw function has improved and am feeling like my old self. My last question to Dr. Stender I'll never forget. I asked him if anyone has ever come back from this. He said "Not in all the years I've worked" So either I'm a RARE case or the good doctor doesn't know as much in the TMJ as he claims. read more

simply the best... and compassionate... Detail oriented... When people ask, I send them only

As we all know, going to the dentist can be a painful experience, but my experience at Science of Smiles is the best I have had of all the dentists I have had in my lifetime. (I'm 64). Firstly, the front office is friendly and helpful and professional. I get my teeth cleaned here twice a year and Angel is a terrific, thorough and empathetic hygienist who is as concerned about your comfort as he is about caring for your teeth. Then there is Dr. Lee. She is great! Personable, kind, funny, meticulous. She is the best dentist I have ever had. Just yesterday she applied a crown to a rear molar. A tough location and she did it with ease with minimal discomfort. Lastly, I am impressed with all the technology they have. 3D imaging for constructing the crown I got was super cool to watch. I know I am good hands when I come here. It gives me peace of mind to know that my dental needs are being so well cared for. I highly recommend Science of Smiles. read more

I always look forward to my appointments with Dr. Stender and his office managers. Dr. Stender is one of the top five Dentists in all of Southern California. I trust his opinions, skills and expertise. His office, "Science of Smiles" is always clean, includes magazines to read, and Pearl brings pretty flowers to look at. read more

Dr Stender is the best! I love everyone here so attentive in front of office as well as techs! A great experience today

Best dental experience ever!!! Highly recommend this practice. My wife and I have been going here for years now and we always get treated amazingly read more

A person of this low a quality should not have a professional practice. I'd take my mouth somewhere else.

I saw Dr. Stephanie P Lee and as a dentist she was great. The office however, makes it extremely difficult to know what your insurance does and doesn't cover and then slaps you with a huge bill at the time of appointment. I got my teeth cleaned on Tuesday Oct. 24th and while there was informed that my insurance would cover 90%, which is what I remembered from my benefits package. When I was paid out, I was charged $89, which seemed high for 90% coverage but my girlfriend convinced me it was because the cost of xrays was so high. I was also informed I had a cavity and scheduled for a filling on Monday Oct. 30. When I arrived for my filling, I had already taken some anxiety meds that were prescribed to me and approved to be taken by the dental office. When shown the cost, I asked why my insurance was no longer covering 90%, which the receptionist told me it was because they were an out of network dentist. I asked her why she wouldn't have told me that during my cleaning (nowhere on the website does it say what insurance is accepted) and she told me that they should have because they had never accepted cigna insurance. I walked out without getting my filling because I simply could not afford to pay out of pocket for the procedure. Healthcare is so hard to get and its made even more difficult by medical offices that are not transparent about their insurance policies. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Stender for over five years now, but I want to share a story of his keen attentiveness to health that ended up changing how I breathe and sleep.  I went to see Dr. Stender some time in early 2018 for a cleaning, and after he examined me he noticed that I had a lot of wear on my teeth from what he suspected was grinding. He pointed out my swollen jaw muscles and recommended I get tested for sleep apnea. I ended up taking two sleep tests that confirmed mild but not severe apnea, but most notably that I wasn't breathing through my nose while I slept. He suspected it could be related to allergies so he recommended I see an allergist.  Once at the allergist, Dr. Flora Vardanian performed a series of tests that confirmed allergies to several features of the natural environment. She also noticed that my septum was deviated on my left side. She recommended an Ear, Throat, and Nose (ENT) specialist and once there Dr. Sean Delaney confirmed the deviated septum and added that I had abnormally enflamed turbinates on my right side, which when combined prevented me from breathing through my nose properly and efficiently.  After about a year following the initial diagnosis by Dr. Stender, I went ahead with a surgery that would correct my deviated septum and reduce the enlarged turbinates in my nose. I never expected to feel so differently and to breath so differently. I notice that I sleep a lot better, and actually have dreams which in the past were rare or non-existent for me. I would attribute this to finally being able to gain deep sleep due to the improved breathing. I cannot believe how much better I breathe now, and it was all thanks to Dr. Stender and his staff's attentiveness to my condition, and their ability to think outside of just teeth and determine that breathing and the health of your teeth are interrelated.  Dr. Stender and his team are a wonderful group of people who sincerely want to improve the health of their patients, and not just their teeth. I feel lucky and grateful to have experienced such care. read more

The number of good reviews for Dr Stender prompted me to make an appointment to have him check out what feels like a misaligned, clicking jaw problem I have. I was surprised at how few patients there were at the office. It didn't seem like a bustling practice, like I expected, but it was great not to have to wait. I got a tour of the office by one of the nurses, who showed me all the various machines they have, including ones that probably wouldn't be used on me for my condition. I felt the tour was just a tiny bit irrelevant for most people? Not a problem though, just a bit different from how other offices do things. I personally felt like it wasn't necessary, but no big deal; it was just a few extra minutes of my time. The main reason for the somewhat negative impression is that I felt like the whole visit (and the follow up visit) was a giant sales pitch. They rave about their use of technology, but to be honest, a regular person like myself (who knows nothing about dentistry) wouldn't know whether the technology is up to date or not. The vast majority of the time I spent there was with a nurse who did these various "tests" that didn't seem to show anything more than what I already knew-that my jaw clicked on one side when chewing. The tests seemed not at all tailored for me, and just seemed like it was a nice for-show sort of thing that didn't really help in any real way in terms of diagnosing specifically what needed to be done for my jaw. The Dr. Stender was nice, but he did not spend much time actually looking at my jaw to see what the problem was. At the end of about 45 minutes of "testing" by the nurse, I was billed around $200, and was told to come back in about a week to go over results. When I returned for the follow up, it once again felt like a sales pitch. Yes, my jaw clicks on one side, they confirmed. Yes, it is fixable with treatment. It wasn't explained to me exactly what the treatment entailed and what the probability was that it would actually work. I felt like I had to take a huge leap of faith in spending what would be thousands of dollars, and for that reason, I decided not to proceed with the treatment. Overall, my impression of this office is "Sales Pitch" from the moment you step in. read more

In the late 1980,s ir early 1990,s I called 1 800 dentist because I wanted dentist in pasadena where I lived and still live. I picked dr. Stender out of the list that was given to me. Talk about hitting a home run the first at bat. In the 30 plus years that I have been a patient of dr.. Stender I have had some work done on my teeth. I have always been extremely happy with the outcome. I have been at dr. Stender,s office when he has been up to his neck with work and is going from chair to chair treating patients. Despite being as busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest, dr. Stender takes the time needed to explain things to his patients and to answer any questions. IMO dr. Stender and his entire staff are true professionals who take pride in their craft and most importantly care about their patients. I just recently received a letter from dr. Stender,s office advising me that as of May 2019 they will no longer be accepting my insurance, Delta Dental. I had to cancel my July appointment for my 6 month cleaning and check up. I am now searching the pasadena area for dentist that will take my insurance. If you are looking for a great dentist, I would highly recommend dr. Stender. You and your family will be very satisfied. read more

Thank you very much! Dr. Stender and his employees are efficient. I have been a customer since I was a child. He had a accomplished dental work that has taken others hours within 45mins to 1 hour. He will have my business for many years! 3/18/19 Just completed a crown! Looks great! No pain out in 45mins. Thanks Dr. Stender. read more

Everyone was super, super nice!! Dr. Stender was walking by and he stopped to say hello. We even got a tour of the facility, they have state of the art technology. I would recommend my friends and family to come here. Excellent customer service!!! read more

Dr. Foon and the staff were terrific. She diagnosed an issue my son was having which was previously not identified. Thanks for going the extra mile! Angel did an awesome job with my cleaning. The front desk was friendly and efficient. We were in and out with little to no wait. Thanks, everyone! read more

I have being coming to Dr. Stender for a couple of years now and he is the only dentist I trust . He is very patient and understanding . I have had bad experiences with dentist before and he always puts my fears at ease . I highly recommend him . read more

After a lot of research, I chose to go and see Dr. Stender. I was looking for a doctor that offered Ozone in the office as an alternative to the typical drill and fill. I have had some really terrible experiences at the dentist office in the past. Not that they were all my dentists fault but simple fillings that caused a lot of pain post filling and even fillings that turned into a root canals. I am absolutely terrified of going to the dentist. After reading his reviews and about all of the technology he used to give his patients the best possible outcome, I chose to take a chance and drive quit a ways to see him. Great office and staff. Dr. Stender was kind and patient with me and my dental phobia. Definitely recommend! read more

I could not be happier with the work and professionalism of Robert Stender and his staff. Love my two upper front veneers! Now I can smile without feeling uncomfortable! Thank you Robert Stender, Pearl, Maricela, and all the staff for everything!! read more

Dr. Stender is the best dentist. I actually don't find myself cowering in fear when I go to see him. He is, essentially, painless when it comes to dentistry. He also does not try and upsell me when I come in. By that I mean I tell him my issue, he looks at it, and tells me the most efficient way to fix it. I am fortunate that because of his outstanding care I really don't have a lot of trouble with my old teeth. I am over 60 and have, thanks to Dr. Stender, all my own teeth, including the wisdom teeth. One more thing, he does not bitch you out about being a coffee or tea drinker. I have had dentists in the past that seemed to live to tell you how awful coffee and tea are for you but not Dr. Stender. He accepts that we have a life and coffee and tea may be part of it. He is the best!!!!! read more

The dentist is by far one of the best and most skilled in Pasadena. This negative review is regarding the front desk operations. They have a system that automatically texts people to remind them of their appointments, that same system should let patients know if their insurance is still accepted or not. Getting off work to come to the dentist only to be told that my insurance is no longer accepted at the office on that day of my appointment is frustrating and with today's technology unacceptable. I got the automated text from the dentist reminding me of my appointment only to show up and find out id need to pay out of pocket for the visit. I was told that a letter was mailed to my (old) address regarding my insurance no longer being accepted by the office...Why not just include this information in the reminder text which was sent a week before the appointment or try calling me directly to inform me of the dropping of my insurance. Then I went to another dentist who informed me that Stender's office had charged my insurance for the services which I declined. read more

Very impressed with the knowledgeable and friendly staff, and cutting edge tech used in this office

Amazing dentist experience today with Dr. Stender. Upon arrival the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The office environment is clean and comfortable. There are some amazing Western themed coffee table books to keep you entertained in the short wait time. The doctor has a lot of neat tech that helps to analyze and monitor different aspects of your teeth and jaw. He's really concerned about the longevity of your oral health! I'm sure other doctors have this too, but they also have a 3D scanner that does a 3D xray of your jaw area. I got to see a part of my skull. MY SKULL. The Doctor is friendly, takes his time to explain things, detailed, and overall just seems like a great guy. I had fun at the dentist today. FUN. read more

Great service and best staff - highly recommend. Always very thorough and explain your financial and treatment options.

I have been going to Dr.Stender for over twenty years. I wouldn't go anywhere else. I had some fillings completed this week. Terrific job on my teeth and they adjusted my retainer. read more