About
Essence of Dentistry
Essence of Dentistry is a Redmond-based family dentist practice that treats patients of all ages. We are committed to delivering the highest quality dental care using advanced dental equipment. We are a cosmetic dentist that offers services like checkups, teeth cleaning, veneers, and more.
We also perform emergency dentist services that include bonding, root canals, crowns, and bridges. As local dentists, we develop lifelong relationships with our patients and their families and work to ensure that they receive treatments in a comfortable and relaxed environment. Dr. Han, Dr. An, and our team invite you to schedule an appointment by calling 425-249-7789 and experience why our patients think Essence of Dentistry is the best dentist in Redmond.
Meet The Team
Our team embraces and maintains a value-based philosophy, to give you the best care possible. The Essence of Dentistry values are:
- Trust: I chose not to be vulnerable.
- Courage: I chose not to let my fear guide my actions, words, and choices.
- Modern Dental Knowledge: I chose to learn different solutions and methods, use up-to-date and new techniques, and to be creative in my approaches and recommendations.
- Volunteering: I chose to volunteer with reputable organizations.
- Dental Research: I chose to assist in furthering the growth of knowledge in dentistry through science.
Dr. Alison Han, DMD
Dr. Han brings many years of dental experience to the practice since 2001, including research at McGill and Harvard Universities and a residency at the University of Washington. She has had rotations throughout the Seattle area and practiced privately in Seattle prior to opening Essence of Dentistry. Committed to expanding her technical knowledge and staying at the top of her field, Dr. Han attends numerous postgraduate courses, including the well-known Kois Center and local study groups. She is a member of the ADA, WSDA, and SKA. She is board-certified in the United States of America and in Canada. She is fluent in English, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese, and speaks some Spanish. She has provided continued support to many philanthropic organizations in the Seattle area and overseas, most notably, the 7 Summits Foundation.
When she is not working, Dr. Han spends her time outdoors — skiing and hiking are two of her favorite activities. She also enjoys traveling and exposing herself to new cultures. She has two daughters and spends most of her time with her family.
Dr. Michael An
Dr. Michael An, a graduate of New York College of Dentistry, is invested in using minimally invasive dentistry techniques and has introduced a new level of aesthetics to our practice. From a wide range of composite veneers to Invisalign and restoration techniques, he is well-versed on many of these newly introduced in-house procedures designed with aesthetics and functionality in mind. As a fellow Kois Center colleague, Dr. An has taken multiple anterior veneer courses, implant courses, and courses specializing in functional occlusion. Ornate and precise, the cosmetic procedures performed here are built to last with beauty in mind.
Continuing Education
Our dentists take continuing education courses to learn about new technology, practices, and procedures that will help them improve their services. By continually educating themselves on the newest practices in dental science, our dentists can better serve their patients and improve their overall oral health. Our dentists are specially trained and graduated from the Kois Center’s “Advancing Dentistry Through Science,” an intense program giving dentists the knowledge they need to stay updated with the expanding knowledge and application skills in restorative dentistry.
AC Sherpa
Born in Nepal, I moved to the US at the age of 14 and graduated from Mercer Island High School in 1990. I went to Bellevue Community College for two years and then transferred to the University of Washington to study business. After that, I moved to Hawaii to study computer information systems.
I enjoy the outdoors. I have completed 7 summits, the seven highest mountains, in 42 climbing days around the world. I am also the father of a beautiful eight-year-old daughter, Amalia Tsering Sherpa.
Because leadership is important to me, I like to set great examples in the community. I am a people person and I like to do social work by helping people in underdeveloped countries. I love dental volunteering and traveling to help people to understand the importance of good oral health and to have the best smiles. Through Essence of Dentistry and 7 Summits Foundation, we have seen over 10,000 women and children in remote villages of Nepal. I also organize tours, travel, safaris, treks, and expeditions to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, India, Africa, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and more.
Lisa Kohli
I graduated from University of Washington with a B.S. in Dental Hygiene. I have many years of experience in dentistry including periodontal specialty practices as well as general dental practice. I was an instructor of the Dental Hygiene Program at Lake Washington Technical College where I taught 1st and 2nd-year clinics. I have taken additional course work in periodontal instrumental, ultrasonic instrumentation, restorative duties and advanced anesthesia. I have lived with my family in the Greater Seattle Area for all of my life and love it here.
Kazuyo Ryno
My name is Kazi, and I was born on the Japanese island of Hokkaido near the city of Sapporo. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Japanese literature from Fuji Women's College, and I attended Marian College in Indiana for one school year through a foreign study program. I worked in IT in Japan after graduating from college but moved to Seattle (my husband's hometown) in 2004. I studied medical assisting at Seattle Vocational Institute and worked in Redmond as an MA. After staying home for several years to raise our two sons, I studied at Lake Washington Institute of Technology to earn my license as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
The aspect of dental hygiene that I find most rewarding is educating patients on steps to improve and maintain oral health. Having seen some of my own relatives lose their teeth at an early age due to the lack of professional oral care, I feel it is extremely important to look after the well-being of my patients and to accommodate their needs to the best of my ability.
I enjoy gardening, playing the piano, reading, yoga, sewing, and knitting. My family and I love to find opportunities to ride bicycles and hike the Northwest trails.
Lisa Palacios
Lisa Palacios joined the Essence of Dentistry team as a dental assistant in May 2020. Prior to joining Essence of Dentistry, Lisa worked as a Veterinary Surgical Tech for about five years. Lisa made the switch from Veterinary Medicine to Dentistry to form closer bonds with the patients she works with. At Essence of Dentistry, Lisa loves meeting new people, educating patients about dental disease, and training new staff members as the lead dental assistant at the practice. She is currently enrolled in an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Program (EFDA) at Penn Foster College. Lisa is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to Washington State about four years ago. In her free time, Lisa enjoys hiking, salsa and swing dancing, rock climbing, and volunteering at local animal shelters.
Iris Yin
Iris Yin joined Essence of Dentistry as a Treatment Coordinator in March 2022. Prior to joining Essence of Dentistry, Iris had professional experience in both the finance and fashion industries, where she gained valuable client service experience. At Essence of Dentistry, Iris enjoys using her skills to address their patient’s deeper needs and managing the front desk to ensure that the back end of the office runs smoothly. She obtained degrees in advertising and accounting in China and the US and was admitted by the University of Washington Seattle. Iris is certified in accounting, holds insurance licenses, and is also fluent in Mandarin and English. Iris is a Christian and strives to bring her strong faith into the workplace. In her free time, Iris commits herself to her ministry.
Fiona Tampi
Fiona Tampi joined the Essence of Dentistry team as a treatment coordinator in March 2021. She grew up in Redmond, WA and graduated from Redmond High School in 2021. She is currently enrolled in a business program at the University of Washington and will be graduating in the spring of 2025. At Essence of Dentistry, Fiona enjoys using her organizational and planning skills to coordinate across different tasks at the office and help patients with their needs. Joining the Essence of Dentistry team has sparked Fiona’s interest in learning more about the field of dentistry, including the process behind fillings, cleanings, and crowns. Outside the office, Fiona enjoys working out at the gym, experimenting with cooking, and hanging out with friends.
Ariana Quinones
Ariana Quinones joined the Essence of Dentistry team as a dental assistant in July 2022. Growing up, Ariana never really enjoyed going to the dentist. This was until her freshman year of high school when she met a dental hygienist who changed her outlook on dentistry and inspired her to pursue a career in the field. She is a student softball athlete at the University of Washington and concurrently at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She will be graduating from both programs in December of 2022. At Essence of Dentistry, Ariana is looking forward to gaining new skills and learning new techniques related to Dentistry, while being part of such a positive work environment. Outside of work, Ariana likes to keep up with athletics, including softball.
Jenny Tan
Jenny Tan joined the Essence of Dentistry office as a treatment coordinator in September 2021. Jenny was a patient with Dr. Han for over 12 years before she joined the Essence of Dentistry team. Jenny enjoys collaborating with her colleagues and interacting with people from many different walks of life which makes the day-to-day work interesting. In her free time, Jenny enjoys traveling and exploring new places around Washington.
Dixi Wu
Dixi Wu joined the Essence of Dentistry office as a Registered Dental Assistant in 2018. Dixi grew up in China and moved to the United States in 2015. She was a patient at Essence of Dentistry for three years before joining as a dental assistant at the practice. Dixi graduated from West Coast College of Dental Assistant in 2018. Her favorite part of working at Essence of Dentistry is connecting with the friendly staff and interacting with patients to ensure they receive the highest quality of care. In her free time, Dixi enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking and biking.
Yali Yang
Yali Yang joined the Essence of Dentistry office as a dental assistant in October 2020. Yali graduated from Lake Washington Institute of Technology with a degree in Allied Health Sciences and is currently applying for a Dental Hygiene program for winter quarter of 2023. At Essence of Dentistry, Yali enjoys gradually improving patient’s oral health to help them maintain their beautiful smiles. When working with patients, Yali is grateful for the opportunity to protect their health and prevent them from developing tooth decay or dental caries. Outside of the office, Yali loves gardening and spending time reading and playing piano with her daughter.
Abby Kim
Abby joined the Essence of Dentistry office as a treatment coordinator in August of 2022. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2022 with a BS in Public Health, majoring in Global Health. At the University of Washington, Abby conducted research on the intersection of oral health and the biological mechanisms of aging in collaboration with the UW School of Dentistry. Abby was drawn to the field of dentistry after shadowing the dentists at a neighborhood dental clinic in Yakima during her freshman year of college. She felt a profound sense of satisfaction while observing the dentists improve patients' health from the direct work of their own hands. The experience inculcated in Abby the importance of forming relationships and building trust in any patient care setting. Following this experience, Abby began volunteering as a dental assistant for the Union Gospel Mission’s Dental Clinic. At Essence of Dentistry, Abby loves that her colleagues are equally as passionate about oral healthcare as she is, and excellence in patient care stands at the center of the practice. In her free time, Abby enjoys paddle boarding, serving as a café barista, sunset chasing, and exploring new coffee shops.
Lily Ha
Lily Ha is a dental hygienist who is joining our dental office in October 2022. Lily grew up in Kirkland, Washington, and graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a BS in Biology. Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Lily worked as a dental assistant at Essence of Dentistry for three and a half years and greatly enjoyed building close relationships with Dr. Han, the staff, and patients. She enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology in 2020 and graduated with a BAS in Dental Hygiene in June 2022. At Essence of Dentistry, Lily is committed to providing compassionate patient care and contributing to a positive environment through humor. In her free time, Lily likes traveling, puzzles and games, and spending quality time with friends and family. Lily also has a big sweet tooth and is an avid ice cream lover.
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