Interview with Dr. Isalie Lee, President of Seolleung Station Dental Clinic
After 10 years of private practice, Dr. Hye Min Jin opened Isalie Dental Seolleung Station. The trigger for the switch was the “perfect transformation” of a patient she orthodontized 10 years ago after a Minish procedure.
“She was shocked to see how natural and beautiful her teeth looked after Minish, and decided to learn Minish from then on.
He envisions the future of dentistry as “lifestyle dentistry. A place where you can drop in and get care in your daily routine, just like going to the gym. To achieve this, he has built a sophisticated system where only two chairs are operated and the owner is directly responsible for all processes, from consultation to treatment to storage, one-on-one.
We want to focus on the essence of being a “lifelong tooth caregiver” rather than the fancy words. Here’s the short answer.
Q1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Dr. Hye Min Jin is the owner of Isalee Dental in Seolleung Station. She has been practicing dentistry for 15 years since graduating from dental school in 2010. She completed her training in integrative dentistry at Catholic University and specialized in orthodontics and postgraduate studies.
With over 10 years of experience in private practice, Dr. Isali is now an open member of Isali Dental, creating “a dental practice that practices real care at the patient’s side”.
Q. What inspired you to become a dentist?
From a young age, I was very handy and enjoyed building anything and everything. Then, in middle school, I was exposed to dentistry when I got my teeth straightened, and I realized that the delicate way of working with differences of 1-2 millimeters was right up my alley.
That “this is it!” intuition led me to become a dentist.
Q. Why did you open Isali Dental Clinic?
Ten years ago, I had an orthodontic patient who was considering a Minish procedure and I told him, “Don’t bother, your teeth are straight.”
However, when she showed up a few days later with her Minish, she was shocked at how beautiful and natural her teeth looked.
I realized that the aesthetic standards for my patients had risen, and I vowed to do a minish one day.
Since then, I’ve been happy to join Isali Dental, as their philosophy of “preserving natural teeth” is in line with my practice.
Q. What is ‘minish’ as you define it?
In a word, I would define it as “just my teeth” because the material properties of Minish are very similar to natural teeth, and it preserves my teeth without unnecessary removal.
From the comfort, weight, and naturalness of the fit to the appearance, it’s a far cry from traditional heavy metal prosthetics.
Q. What is the differentiating system of Isalie Dental and Seolleung Station?
We don’t have the factory-style practice of a large dental office. We have only two chairs and I, the owner, take care of everything one-on-one, from consultation to examination, treatment, filing, and scheduling.
I want to be able to fully engage with my patients and create a structure where I am in charge from start to finish. Instead, I’ve adopted the latest equipment and devices to reduce patient visit times while maintaining the highest quality of care.
Q. Do you do anything special for people who are afraid of the dentist?
I don’t wear a face shield in my practice, because obstructed vision increases fear, but I make constant eye contact with my patients to reassure them.
I also explain the whole process in advance, like “the water is going out now” or “it may taste sour”. It’s less scary when you can predict what’s going to happen. My trick is to read the patient’s facial expressions and immediately reflect their discomfort.
Q. What do you think is your competitive advantage as a dentist?
I am a “communicator” who listens to my patients all the way through. I ask enough questions and explain why something is wrong, what their options are, and what direction they really want to go.
I feel most rewarded when I hear patients say, “I understand,” or “Your explanations put my mind at ease,” and I believe this is the greatest power I have.
Q. You use the phrase “lifestyle dentistry,” what does that mean specifically?
I want my practice to be a place where patients feel comfortable coming in and taking care of their teeth on a regular basis, just like going to the gym.
We believe that dentistry shouldn’t be a painful and scary place, but rather a partner in designing and managing your dental health for life. We hope that Isali will become the standard for “lifestyle dentistry” that will be popping up in every neighborhood.
Q. What is the ultimate goal you would like to achieve at Isaly Dental?
When we first started this model, we had some nervousness about whether it would work, but after a lot of trial and error, we’ve built a sophisticated system.
In the future, we want to see Isaly Dental in more locations and become a trusted brand that symbolizes “where you don’t get sick and we take care of you for life.”
Q16. Do you have any final words of advice for patients?
It’s my job to break the perception that dentistry is a painful and scary place, and I want you to come to me not as a scary doctor, but as a brother or sister you know.
I will be a doctor who never rests on my laurels, but continues to learn and challenge myself within Minish. I will never forget the courage it took to join Isaly Dental and start Minish, and I will continue to evolve and become your most comfortable doctor.
