I've been meaning to write Dr. Lee a Yelp review for a while, and I finally got around to it.
Dr. Lee was my orthodontist when I was in middle school. I had my braces for 1.5 years, which was pretty short compared to the duration of my friends' treatments. However, as a negligent child, I didn't mind that I only had to wear those metallic teeth jail cell bars for 1.5 years.
And yes indeed was I a negligent child. I wore my retainers for about a year (and didn't clean them very well because all that white calcium gunk started building up on it), and after a few weeks of forgetfulness, they didn't fit all together. I thought, oh well, my teeth are looking good. Correction: "were" looking good.
Fast forward to 2011 when my dad tells me that I am covered by his health insurance plans until I'm 24--yay! He's switched companies by this point, so he recommends that if I want to get braces again, I should get them now before politicians decide to screw with legislature again. With a new insurance plan, my teeth are eligible for some more time in the teeth slammer.
I scheduled a few consultations with different orthodontists in the Bay Area. They were all nice and polite, except that their treatment prices were as expensive as one semester of UC Berkeley tuition (at least what it was in 2008). No, I didn't need a full set of braces; no, I didn't need Invisalign for $2000 more; no, I didn't want to wear braces for another 2 years. And that's where Dr. Lee came in to the picture.
I sheepishly went in for my consultation, and I told him that I hadn't worn my retainers for many years, which is why I was looking for corrective orthodontic work. He did an evaluation and came up with a plan: one set of lower jaw metal braces that spanned my front teeth and my back molars for approximately 6 months with Invisalign retainers afterwards. He told me that my top set of teeth were decently straight, and if I fixed my lower jaw, the top jaw would mesh perfectly. Total cost: around $1900. Bingo.
Scheduling monthly visits were painless, as this Fremont location is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I've had to reschedule a few times, and Mrs. Lee (yep, wife as the receptionist) is accommodating and polite. They operate in their Cupertino location on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which I have also visited for a monthly check-up while running around with my private tutoring sessions. Their dental staff (Mimi and Fay) pack up and travel with them between both sites, and those ladies are incredibly friendly, kind, and amiable. They'll make small talk with you as you get into your seat and chat with you about their day. And I swear that they haven't aged since the first time I met them 8 years ago c:
My braces were removed in December, and I was given my Invisalign retainers. He also offered me permanent retainers (a bar that is glued to the back of your teeth), but I didn't want to have to pay for a replacement if I broke it (with hardcore flossing, byahh!!!). Plus, I learned my lesson about not wearing my retainers, so I trusted myself not to make the same mistake twice :P
With regards to patient care from the doctor himself, Dr. Lee is, in all honesty, a bit condescending. He's a great guy, and he knows his trade well enough to fix your teeth quickly and cost-effectively, but sometimes he does talk down to his patients. I'm not sure what it was like when I was 13, but I imagine it was much different than now, where he sees me as an educated college student ready to tackle the world. In any case, he still gives your teeth the attention they need, and if he's too busy with other patients, you can always ask Mimi and Fay c:
Other notes: both Dr. Lee and Mrs. Lee speak good English, but they commonly speak Chinese with their patients. Sometimes he'll throw a Chinese phrase at me, which I usually don't know, and then we'll have a funny conversation about the English translation. Also, their waiting area is full of a variety of magazines and children's books and comics. I think I saw Shonen Jump in there, which I thought was super awesome to the max. And before your visit, you're welcome to use their sink to brush your teeth. They provide complimentary tooth brushes! No toothpaste though, so don't come in with onion breath. And come to your visit early; I usually arrived on-time or 5 minutes late, and he is booked back-to-back on Saturdays. Expect to wait 10 - 15 minutes to be seated in a dentist chair, and then another 5 - 10 minutes to be seen. The place gets good sunlight though, and he has two turtles in a tank for your amusement.
A word to the wise for all orthodontic patients: floss your teeth. With metal braces, it's annoying as f***, but if you don't do it, your teeth will be discolored and icky. Floss for your health and for your looks!
At the end of the day, Dr. Lee is a good orthodontist. I think he's gotten nicer over the years, and really, all that matters is that your smile is more beautiful c: read more