20 Year History of Serpentine Dental Care

In this blog post I'll be talking about the 20 year history of Serpentine Dental Care, a practice that I started in 2005 with a vision and a huge leap of faith. I wanted to make dentistry more accessible, modern, and patient-focused. But the foundation of this practice goes back even further... my father, Dr. Johnny Lee, first established his dental practice in the Lee Building in 1967.

Then and now: reflecting on the growth and transformation of Serpentine Dental Care over the last 20 years.

When I fully took over in 2004, I had the opportunity to move out of downtown POS, and by May 2005, I founded Serpentine Dental Care in its new home. Since then I’ve never looked back. I made a promise to myself and my patients to stay ahead of the curve—always learning, always growing.

In those early years, we were known for our strong focus on periodontal care. I was fortunate to work alongside a distinguished U.S.-based periodontist, the only one in Trinidad at the time. Trinidad was lucky to have him, and so was I. He brought me personalized hands-on mentorship in Periodontics (from a specialist who taught at UPenn and Temple). That experience shaped the way I approach specialist care, referrals, and above all, relationships, with patients and colleagues alike.

Early in my career, I encountered a patient with severely worn teeth, and I didn’t know how to help him look better. That moment of frustration sparked a turning point. I had already been attending annual ADA meetings, but I knew I needed more. In 2008, I attended my first Frank Spear lecture in Boston, and by 2011, I began his continuum in Scottsdale, Arizona. That education opened up a world of facially generated treatment planning, occlusion, and comprehensive case design.

I was doing hand-designed wax-ups back then, long before digital became the norm. It was meticulous and time-consuming, but it laid the foundation for the smile design work I still do today.

By 2016, I began my training in dental sleep medicine. It was deeply rewarding to learn how dentists can play a critical role in a patient’s overall health, helping with snoring, airway issues, and sleep apnea. It expanded my view of dentistry as a truly integrative field.

In 2017, we moved into our Maraval location, right as the digital revolution was gaining speed. We had already adopted digital X-rays and practice software, but the addition of 3D scanning and Digital Smile Design changed everything. I had done Invisalign as early as 2009, but now it became fully integrated into my treatment planning. And because I had a smile designer background, the transition felt seamless.

Then came 2021, and biomimetic dentistry. That was the final piece. For years, I had questioned the old-school mindset of cutting down healthy teeth for crowns. With biomimetic techniques, I finally had the tools to preserve and rebuild natural structure in a way that’s stronger, healthier, and more sustainable.

Today, our smile makeovers combine airway-friendly Invisalign planning, digital design, and minimally invasive restorations. We don’t do full crowns unless replacing old ones. Root canals, extractions, and surgery are avoided wherever possible. We’re proud to provide care on par with top practices worldwide, and even prouder that many patients seek us out for that very reason.

And still, the heart of the practice hasn’t changed. Some of our patients have been with us since my father’s time. Others are just beginning their journey with us. Every relationship is valued. Every smile matters.

I’m also proud to lead a woman-owned, multi-chair practice, with an orthodontist and periodontal specialist on the team. My team has grown with me, and I’ve seen them become more patient-focused and purpose-driven with each year.

Thank you for being part of this 20-year journey. Whether you’re new or a familiar face, your trust means everything.

To mark the occasion, we’re offering a gift to new patients beginning Invisalign treatment during May. It’s our way of saying thank you—and helping someone else start their journey with confidence.

With gratitude,

Dr. Christiana Lee