Interview with Dr. Shin Non-hyun, President of Isalie Dental Clinic
“A dentist should be a keeper of teeth, not a fixer of teeth.”
That’s the conclusion Dr. Kim Eun-jin, who leads Isalee Dental Sinnon Branch, has come to after more than 20 years as the head of a large dental clinic. Skeptical of conventional treatment methods, he became convinced of natural tooth preservation after receiving a mini-mealish for his own tooth wear and cracks. His experience as a doctor and patient led him to create a practice that listens to patients and puts their lives first. Here’s what he had to say
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
As a dentist for more than 20 years, I have always wondered, “How can I protect my natural teeth longer?” I naturally came across a treatment called Minish, and in 2025, I opened Isaly Dental Sinnon Branch.
Q. Why did you open Isalee Dental Clinic?
In my 20 years of practice, I’ve always wondered, “Why do I have to shave so much?” and “Is there a way to do it without feeling like a loss?”
I’ve seen too many patients, especially younger ones, have a lot of teeth removed with crowns, only to find themselves struggling with gum problems again in less than a decade.
I always wondered, “Do we really have to go this far?” and I intuitively felt the answer in the name ‘Isalie Dentistry’. My experience with Minish convinced me of that philosophy.
Q. So you’ve been treated with Minish yourself?
I had some tooth wear and micro-cracks, and even dentists have a ‘let’s hold on until we can’ mentality, so I put off treatment because it was mild in the beginning and I thought I could manage it myself because I’m a doctor.
Then I got to a point where I couldn’t take it anymore, and I started doing Minish, which made chewing easier and smiling more natural.
Q. What was different about receiving Minish as a patient?
First of all, I really felt how trusting Dr. Minish’s explanations were to the patient, because he was showing me my teeth on the screen and explaining my options, and I felt like, ‘He’s trying to understand me.
The digital diagnostic system was organized, but the one-on-one interaction was uniquely reassuring, because that’s the foundation of trust in any treatment, and I felt that’s what I wanted to do with my patients.
Q. Has there been any change in your practice since the Minish treatment?
Whereas I used to focus on solving the ‘visible problem’, I now try to listen more deeply to the ‘patient’s pain’, because the doctor’s and patient’s perspectives are completely different.
I think it’s important to listen to the patient first, and to keep up with the patient’s pace of understanding, because it’s something that the doctor knows, but the patient is hearing for the first time. I think that’s what real medicine is about: explaining difficult things in a way that the patient can easily understand.
Q. How do you practice the “dentist is the keeper of teeth” philosophy?
It’s not just about making it pretty, it’s about making it last, because treatments that restore function but miss out on beauty or preservation don’t last long.
I’ve seen too many patients with high deletion volumes struggle with gum problems over time.
I believe dentists should be “protectors” of teeth, not “fixers”.
I’ve seen too many patients suffer from excessive tooth removal, so I’ve come to believe that the real treatment is to leave them untouched whenever possible.
Q. Why did you open the second Isalie Dentistry store (Sinnonhyeon) and what are your goals?
I wanted to create a structure that ensured both patient and clinician time, and I thought it was most important to systematize it to allow for explanation-based care.
Isaly Dental has a clear philosophy of ‘treat less, keep longer’. I am strong in natural tooth preservation treatments such as wear and tear, cracks, and gum problems, and I think this approach is a great competitive advantage in Gangnam.
Q. Do you notice a change in patients these days?
Patients have really raised their dental IQ these days. They’ve educated themselves on treatments, materials, and even longevity. “Can it be restored without removal?” “I want to see the condition of the tooth in person.” These are the first questions they ask.
Because of these changes, I make sure to spend a lot of time in consultation, and I’m a big believer in the “we work together to create a treatment plan” approach. There’s a misconception that dentistry is all about cutting and capping, but there are more and more ways to save teeth.
Q. What does a “good dentist” look like in your opinion?
Someone who listens to your story, aims for maximum recovery with minimal intervention, and builds trust before they see you. That’s a good doctor.
Technology is important, but the attitude of caring for the patient’s life is more important. I would tell anyone preparing to open a practice to think about ‘how to treat’ before ‘what to treat’.
Q. What is the last thing you would like to accomplish at Isaly Dental?
I want to create a new standard in natural tooth preservation care, and my work here means so much to me that I think, ‘I want to spend my last journey at Isalchi.
My final goal is to hear a fellow doctor or patient say, “I wish I could do this kind of dentistry.”
