She spent her childhood years living in Portland and Seoul, splitting her time between the hustling city of Gangnam and the quaint charm of Beaverton and Tigard where she built her tree forts and learned to skateboard. Later during her college years, she even wandered off to live in Paris where she developed a growing appetite for French cuisine and desserts, while working as a student-chef at the Ritz Escoffier culinary school. After all the exciting adventures, Dr. Leemin knew that her ultimate passion rested in crafting beautiful smiles, and returned to the stateside to pursue her childhood dreams in orthodontics.
After graduating from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors, she embarked on her career in dentistry at University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated #1 in her class. Feeling just a little too ambitious, she then completed 2.5 years of additional training at OHSU to become an orthodontic specialist.
Since finishing her whopping 11 years of post secondary education (or 23 years in school!), she has not yet lost her appetite in learning, and continues to attend several Invisalign seminars and continuing education courses. She currently practices as a board certified orthodontist, an achievement shared only by one third of orthodontists nationwide. With broad experience in advanced orthodontic treatments, Dr. Leemin enjoys serving patients of all ages with a wide variety of bite problems!
Outside her professional demeanor during office hours, chances are, Dr. Leemin is stirring up trouble she loves cooking up delicious french meals that require the use of every utensil in her kitchen, and snowboarding at Mt. Hood in her Eeyore onesie. If you spot her tail, be sure to bring it to her!
Dr. Kimberly Handick began her orthodontic career in Hillsdale after graduating from Indiana University School of Dentistry with high honors and finishing her residency program in orthodontics with a masters degree. She came to the PNW with her husband and one baby, but two decades and a set of triplets later, she somehow finds herself to be a mom to four grown-up children and a golden doodle named Stella. One would never guess that she led daily circus shows at home from the way she has gracefully captained Hillsdale Orthodontics and treated thousands of smiles all these years. As a mom of oh-so-many children, she has an exceptional way of making everyone feel special and at ease. WithDr. Leemin, she is excited to stay connected to the latest technologies in orthodontics as ourPortland Orthodontistscontinue to provide excellent orthodontic services to the community.
Invisalign is the most popular brand of clear aligners used for orthodontic treatment. It utilizes a series of clear removable aligners, also called trays, made of smooth clear plastic that straighten your teeth over time, and offers adults and teenagers an alternative solution to traditional braces. Your treatment plan is completely customized and designed step-by-step by your Portland orthodontist, who will monitor your progress from A to Z until a beautiful smile and a healthy bite are achieved.
While the cosmetic benefits of Invisalign are often the most touted, the other benefits are hard to deny. Patients in traditional braces have to forgo many foods to avoid damaging the brackets and wires. But that isnt the case with Invisalign because the aligners are removed before eating and drinking. That also means brushing and flossing is easy because you dont have brackets and wires to try to work around. Of course, your ability to remove the aligners comes as a double-edge sword! They only work when they are worn, and therefore require a higher degree of patient compliance to ensure treatment stays on track.
Invisalign utilizes a series of clear removable aligners that look and feel like clear retainers, or rigid whitening trays. Each patients treatment usually consists of 10-30 aligners that each move the teeth in small increments by applying gentle pressure, and patients progress through the series until the teeth straighten completely. The aligners are made of smooth clear plastic, with no need for metal wires or brackets. Your orthodontist combines his or her expertise in orthodontics with powerful digital technology to prescribe your unique treatment plan.
Once the aligners are custom-ordered, the series of aligners will gradually guide the teeth to their proper alignment. The trays utilize gentle, consistent pressure to move teeth. Each set of aligners is worn for 22 hours a day for 7-14 days before moving to the next set. Each set of aligners is perfectly calibrated to achieve a certain tooth movement, with the end result being a straighter smile with a healthier bite. Treatment time usually varies from 6-24 months, depending on the complexity of your case.
With her years of experience as a certified Invisalign provider, Dr. Leemin is able to treat a wide spectrum of orthodontic cases spanning from simple crowding cases to complex surgical cases. Fortunately for all of us, Invisalign treatment is now no longer limited only to those with the most minor malocclusions.
Reviews
Rating 5.0 out of 5 based on 165 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestSara Richardson
a year ago
I just finished Invisalign and my son is partway through tradition braces and a pallet expander. We have had a wonderful experience! The front desk is friendly and organized, the doctors are caring and listen and are great at finding solutions that work for everyone. The assistants are patient and kind and put my nervous kiddo at ease. I highly recommend!
Daniel Rodriguez
a year ago
Amazing team! I'm on Invisalign Week 10 and I am so happy I chose Hillsdale Orthodontics.
Kathryn Evenson
a year ago
Cannot recommend this group enough! They were fantastic for my Invisalign journey!!
tasha Hao
a year ago
I had a wonderful experience here. I was referred by my dentist in December of 2019 and was able to start treatment in January of 2020. My final appointment was in October of 2022 and I am officially "graduated". The staff/drs/assistants are all so kind and patient. Coming here during covid was a breeze, I felt safe with all of the precautions that were put into place. Highly recommended and pleased with my new smile.
Halimah Abdi
a year ago
So happy I found Hillsdale Ortho through a google search one day. Loved that they had an easy self-scheduling process for consultation appointments. I had the BEST experience here for my ortho procedure from initial visit to the day of my treatment. The staff are just amazing & you can tell everyone here loves their job. Can't recommend them highly enough!
Amy Bader
a year ago
LOVE MY TEETH! And, no more TMJ pain. The doctors and staff here are the BEST!
Astrid Parups-Dragoy
a year ago
Efficient and kind staff. Thorough explanation of treatments. I have recommended Hillsdale orthodontics to several friends.
Jenna Sells
a year ago
Great experience! We had 3 ortho evaluations before coming here. The 3D bracket printer & experience is making the process shorter & less invasive then any other treatment recommendations! My daughter & I are thrilled at this new approach, easier & shorter process. Well worth the slightly higher cost upfront, as opposed to much higher costs long term, more painful & longer experience!
Allie Ryan
a year ago
So great and accommodating! Very clean and organized
Hilary Alexander
2 years ago
We love Dr. Kim Handick and staff! Everyone here is very friendly and professional. My kiddo feels comfortable here. Office is clean and nice. Highly recommend!
soul weather
2 years ago
The absolute best orthodontic device I've ever received. Friendly staff, very transparent about pricing, and a great experience all around.
Stephanie Borjas
2 years ago
Everyone is so nice here! I appreciate how thorough everyone is at their job- from front desk to staff & the doctors! I know I'm in great hands
Zac Cramer
2 years ago
It was a flawless experience, very well run office, extremely efficient.
Andrea Chaney
2 years ago
Excellent experience and care! From my initial appointment, I have been impressed with how thorough, dedicated and helpful the entire staff has been! I never needed braces until adulthood and truly can't imagine having a better experience. I will absolutely be bringing my kids to Dr. Leemin and Dr. Handick when it's their turn for braces. Can't recommend them enough!
Henry broberg
2 years ago
Super friendly staff-- appointments are always quick and convenient.
combat sushi
2 years ago
Really happy with the staff and results!
Stephanie Menjivar
2 years ago
I love the atmosphere and the friendly service the staff brings at Hillsdale Orthodontics!
L Ascher
2 years ago
My family has been coming to Hillsdale orthodontics for years. They are a great staff and wonderful doctors. Get your new smile on!
Erin McQuown
2 years ago
Prompt, kind, professional, high tech, beautiful office and location and with a good sized parking lot! Definitely a great Orthodontist and I luckily got an appointment within 1 day of calling them for the first time. Highly recommend!
Jessie Myszka
2 years ago
We don't have experience with any other orthodontist for comparison, but Dr. Leemin and her staff seem laid back yet professional. They patiently answer our questions about my daughter's expander, retainer, and other work. After her first visit, they even sent a personal card signed by each staff member: "Like a Boss" it declared, and congratulated her. We've run into the orthodontist at a playground and the library, so it's not just located nearby, they are also actual members of the community. Tooth work shows results mostly in the long run, but so far so good!
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