Visiting Korea: A Personal Reflection from a Korean-American Dentist
First trip to Korea since 2022
Last October, I got to visit Korea for two weeks — a trip that was meaningful to me both personally and professionally. I got to spend time with my parents (they moved back to Korea to enjoy their extended family including my grandmas both in their 80’s!), and got to celebrate our one-year anniversary with my husband who had never visited Korea before.
As a Korean-American dentist and small business owner, reconnecting with my roots was a reminder of the values I carry into my work every day: family, respect, and attention to detail.
Why This Matters to Our Patients
As a family-owned, non-corporate dental practice, we believe relationships matter. My background and experiences shape how I care for patients of all ages, whether it’s taking extra time to explain treatment options or making sure families feel comfortable and heard. I ran into multiple friends and family members, who had simple questions to ask about their own dental care— why can’t I get an implant here? Why did this hurt during this crown procedure? Should I get my wisdom teeth out? (I’m 70!)— and wanted to better understand what was happening in their mouths.
Spent a day in Seoul walking around this traditional Korean palace— lots of non-Koreans were wearing the colorful traditional Korean outfits (available for rent!)
Representing Timeless Smiles all the way in Korea
As we go into the new year, my goal continues to be empowering my patients in their pursuit of lifelong dental health. My goal isn’t just to treat my patients with my hands, but to help them feel empowered and educated in their dental care with my words. I’m humbled by the questions patients ask me every day, and it reminds me to take my time.
If you’d like to see a Korean-speaking dentist near Drexel Hill, come check out our office Timeless Smiles at 610-449-7002
- Dr Kim Traband
As always, if you’d like:
Learn more about our team here.
Reach out to schedule a consultation here.
