Cosmetic & Family Dentist – Bellevue, Wa
Get to Know
Dr. Lily Xue Du
Dr. Du knew from an incredibly young age that the combination of beauty and health care, that dentistry can provide to patients, was her passion in life. When she took over this practice from Dr. Susan LaBounty in March 2020, the COVID pandemic did not phase her – she used the statewide closure to benefit the office and upgraded all systems to be able to provide the most up to date, digital, dental health care to her patients. She strives to pass on the dedication and quality care to all existing patients here – and many more new patients to come! If you would like to learn more about her, just keep reading below.
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“At a young age, I found my passion for art, health, and human wellbeing, and I wanted to make a difference in the lives of the people I met by helping them build confidence in themselves through the education and improvement of oral health. Through dentistry, I felt that I could incorporate both my passion and goals, and I think Ideal Smiles was born from that. The heart and soul of this dental office is about creating an experience based on people, that serves people.”
- Dr. Lily Xue Du, Founder
Why Did You Decide to Become a Dentist?
When Dr. Du was around nine years old, she wrote an essay that contained the following sentence: “When I grow up, I want to be a dentist, living in California, driving a red doorless jeep.” So far, she has lived in California and become a dentist – she just needs the doorless jeep!
In all seriousness, both of Dr. Du’s parents worked in the medical field, and she wanted to follow in their footsteps and help people. She has a lot of empathy for those in need, as well as a passion for the arts – dentistry allowed her to combine both elements into a career. Today, there is nothing she enjoys more than seeing a patient’s face light up after receiving a brand-new smile.
Where Did You Study Dentistry?
Dr. Du was born in Beijing, China and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She is fluent in both English and Mandarin! After completing her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science at Western University, she pursued her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC). Today, she regularly attends study clubs and continuing education courses so that she can keep learning as much as possible! She is a proud member of the following dental organizations:
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American Dental Association
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Academy of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry
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Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society
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Seattle-King County Dental society
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Washington State Dental Association
Dr. Du has been extensively trained in both cosmetic/esthetic and general dentistry, Dr. Du is diligent about your oral health care education and helping patients find the confidence they need through their smile. She has been published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry and believes that the artistic and esthetic components of dentistry are what set dentists apart from other healthcare providers! She is also an Invisalign® provider.
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
As for personal hobbies, Dr. Du loves going to the movies - mostly for the buttery popcorn. She loves to stay physically active - hiking, walking, and running with Luna. Dr. Du and Ryan love trying new foods - especially at Disneyland and Disney World! Always staying young at heart, you can see Disney incorporated into many aspects of Dr. Du personal and professional career at the office! Come check out her Disney Floral Ear wall, displaying mouse ear headbands personally made by Dr. Du herself!
What About Your Family
Outside the Dental Office?
Dr. Du's parents currently live in Ontario, Canada, where she grew up. Her father teaches Mandarin Culture and her mother is a retired hair stylist and manages student rental homes. She has a brother named William who is studying at Carnegie Mellon - Silicon Valley, getting his M.Sc. in Software Engineering. As for her husband Ryan, she met him while in dental school and decided to move back to his hometown in Washington after graduation. The third member of their little family is a Scottish Fold cat named Loki, who has quite the personality. The newest addition to Dr. Du's family is her daughter, Luna Aurora, born on December 18th, 2021. Being a working mom has come naturally to Dr. Du - she just has more things to love in life now!
