Short Version:
If you are still searching for an orthodontist, you should probably stop right here because you aren't going to find a better place. Dr. Lemery and the whole team are absolutely incredible.
Long Version:
I had long thought that I should get things straightened out with my teeth but I was never really champing at the bit to get it done. (Ok, promise, no more puns) My dentist, who is also faculty at the University of Washington, pointed out that I was getting cavities in places that otherwise wouldn't if it were just for the fact that my teeth needed alignment. For years when I asked him if I needed to get braces, he had said "no." As age and tooth movement had crept up, his answer shifted. When I asked where I should go, he said that one his former students was right down the road and was one of the best in the state. As an aside, he mentioned that Dr. Lemery was top in his class.
When I showed up at Overlake, I have to admit that there was a fair amount of apprehension to embark on this process as a 40 year old, but I was hoping that I could get away with Invisalign and be on my way. Who really wants to have braces as an adult?!
Dr. Lemery told me that he could make my smile pretty for the camera with Invisalign, but he went into detail with a very patient explanation of why they couldn't get things into the right spots with my problem, and if top oral health was really the goal, the treatment plan was going to include braces. And off we went.
The care and expertise that Dr. Lemery brought to the table was remarkable, but don't tell him that I said I told you this: his team is even better than he is. They are off the charts fabulous. Aunie and Colleen were always an absolute joy to be greeted by and they made certain that any scheduling or financial concerns were in perfect order. The Orthodontic Team: Mary (watch out for this one, you can't pull anything over on her), Deb (lightning fast with teeth and wit), Bethany (nicest person on the planet, waiting to see otherwise), and Tami (Dangerous - she's as tough as Mary, but plays innocent) were so efficient. skillful and accommodating that you never run into challenges that can't be addressed immediately and painlessly. When it came to getting the teeth straight they were flawless. They are all hilarious, fun, kind considerate, and thoughtful. If you think all of these soft skills are unneeded and you really just want world class technical expertise, then you have that too. Admittedly I don't have a comparison, but I would say that they are probably some of the most technically adept our area. And, if you are a stick in the mud and don't need the fun, kind considerate part, I'm willing to be that they would check that at the door for ya.
Lest you think that all of this raving about the Orthodontic Assistants is all fine and well, but what about the doctor... Dr. Lemery is one of the most accessible healthcare providers I've had the good fortune of working with. The partnership that you get when you get a treatment plan with him is unrivaled. The way he is able to boil down the technical medical stuff into practical understandable information for you is really quite remarkable. His attention to detail and eye for his art (and science) is really quite amazing to watch. He is considerate and listens to concerns and addresses them point by point. He gives very realistic expectations and clearly seeks to exceed them. It's a well known secret that we don't share with him that we think he's amazing because he's super humble and we didn't want him to go changn' on us, like wearing Elvis suits to work or something. Who knows what he would do if he realized he was top in his field.
I typically like to include the gotchas and negative points when I write a review of a place, because there is always something that isn't perfect and as a business owner, hearing glowing reviews feels good, but doesn't give you process improvement points. As I sit here trying to find information that you as a patient would have, I struggle. The open atmosphere of the clinic with patients all getting adjustments at the same time might be unusual for some (?) but I absolutely loved it. As one would expect, there are a lot of kids in there, but it never had a playground feel and there was never a time where I saw a kid that wasn't a picture of politeness. Alright, I'm really, really reaching here... if you are headed eastbound on Bel-Red, there's no left hand turn lane to get into the parking lot, but hardly something that you dock an establishment on. I'm not kidding. It's tough to find something to improve on here.
The Bottom Line:
The entire team at Overlake Orthodontics do an outstanding job in every facet of their operation. If you have the opportunity to become an future alumni patient of theirs, I would suggest you do so. They are better than you could ever ask for. read more