It's important to know about your dentist.  Here's the main qualifications:

    - Doctor of Dental Surgery, Loma Linda University 2002
    - Bachelor of Sciences, Biology, UC Irvine, 1997
    - Dentist, Saddleback Local Peace, Independencia, Mexico
    - Asst Adj Professor, Loma Linda University, Dental Education Services

There's more to someone than just their resume.  I'd like to share with you what I've done, where I came from, and what I'm doing now in this online biography.

Credentials

American Dental Association Member since 1998

California Dental Association Member since 1998

Private Practice Dentistry, 2002 - present

Assistant Adjunct Professor, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 2003-present

Doctor of Dental Surgery, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, 2002

Bachelor of Sciences, Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, 1997
Diploma, Capistrano Valley High School, Mission Viejo, 1993

The Saigon hospital where I was born

 How It All Started

I was born in February of 1975 in Saigon, Vietnam.  Saigon was to fall to the Communists less than three months later.  On that fateful day, my parents took a three-month old baby, a couple hundred dollars, and some baby formula onto a US Navy barge.  They left everything behind, for a foreign country on the other side of the ocean and the other side of the world.

A Little Bit of God, or a Whole Lot of Luck

We were Vietnam war refugees.  The army took us to Guam, then Fort Chafee.  A local church, San Juan Capistrano Presbyterian, sponsored our family and got us a small apartment in San Clemente.  My dad started out as a dishwasher.  My mom sewed clothes for years.  We had a lot of help from local church members, driving us, teaching us english, and giving us clothes.  A few years later, my parents had learned English, had good jobs, and a house.   Depending on how you see the world, either there was a little bit of God, or a whole lot of luck involved.

Family Christmas, 1981

Learning the Language

We moved to Mission Viejo with my uncle's family sometime before I was 4.  My first language was, naturally, Vietnamese.  I entered preschool knowing only one English word: "No."  Fortunately, I learned English very quickly.  By 1st or 2nd grade, Vietnamese became my second language...now I speak English like an American, and Vietnamese like, well, an American.  

My dental school volleyball team, the Soup Nazis, 1998
from left: Ron, Vu (me), Liza, Dennis, Mary, Glenn

Getting Schooled

I graduated with honors from Capistrano Valley High School in 1993, then UC Irvine (BS in Biology) in 1997.  I learned lots of facts, some useful, some not.  Somewhere in there I figured out that I was a nerd.  I got involved in youth leadership when my core group leader, Bob Hull, said "You know a lot of Bible, you should be an assistant (core group leader)."  That was the beginning of over a dozen years in youth ministry.

It was also during this time period that I discovered what still are my favorite hobbies: photography, graphic arts, web site design, music, snowboarding, skating and cycling. 

Me, my grandparents, aunt Grace, and parents in
front of my portrait in the main lecture hall at Loma Linda.

Going Dental

Loma Linda University School of Dentistry was really where everything started to come together.  Lots of long hard hours with the same class of 90 people for four years, and you get very close.  After 12 years of schooling, I finally figured out how to be popular and even got elected as student council treasurer.  It was four years where I worked hard and played hard.  As you can see, I also got the honor of my life-size picture permanently mounted to the main lecture hall...with a mask on my face :)  Four years later, I am a volunteer faculty member at LLUSD, taking dental students on trips to do their first fillings and extractions.

Some of our clinic team in Independencia, Mexico.

Back to Basics

I spent my journeyman years being a dentist in far off places like Valencia and Crestline.  I would always come home to visit family and friends on weekends.  After putting 50,000 miles on my car in less than three years, I decided that it was time to put down roots.  I moved back home, and started regularly attending Saddleback Church.  As I started to get more involved, (that's me on a Mexico mission trip) I knew that I had found my niche here in South Orange County.  After an exhaustive search, I ended up opening an office just a few minutes from where I grew up all these years.  Sometimes things do come around full circle.

What I'm Up to Now

If you attend Saddleback Church, you might have seen me on assignment with PICS, or on a mission trip with Health Care ministry.  If not, I'm sure I'll see you around sooner or later.  Thanks for reading.  If I haven't met you already, I hope I get the chance to do so soon!

You may know someone that I know.  You're welcome to look me up on Facebook.

Comments (7) >>

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Jessika Young said:

wow I love your bio. I am going to your office for my first appointment, and reading your story makes me feel a lot more comfortable and sure that I made the right choice. You actually remind me a lot of one of my really good friends, he also has a similar story in that he was born in Saigon, Vietnam right around the time you were and family came over to US, they started off in Kansas City though. Anyways, thanks for letting me peek into your life a little, I am looking forward to meeting you today!

January 23, 2007

Bob Greenspan said:

Doctor Vu I just wanted to let you know that the new crown you just put in for me is great. I don't even know it is there, which I guess is one of the best compliments a dentist can receive. If anyone who is reading this is looking for a new dentist you cannot do better than Dr. Vu Le. I have been going to him for about 18 months now and I find him to be one of the best dentists I have ever been to. When I think of Dr. Vu (that's what I call him) the first word that comes to mind is INTEGRITY. A previous dentist had tried to sell me thousands of dollars worth of dental work. He told me my teeth were bad, my gums were bad etc. etc. Dr. Vu told me that my teeth and gums were just fine and the recommendations by the other dentist were not justified. My recent crown was the result of my cracking a tooth. Not only is Dr. Vu a great dentist but he is also a computer geek. I mentioned to him that instead of watching a DVD on the computer screen above the dental chair while he worked on me, I preferred to watch Television News. Before I came back to have the temporary crown taken out and the permanent crown put in he had hooked up the TV to the screen. He went out, bought the equipment and hooked it all up himself. Thank you Dr. Vu!

April 19, 2007

Carlos Frias said:

I have been going to your office since your first day. I love it for many reasons but most of all is your professionalism and knowledge. I do enjoy the massage room, too. Thank you so much, Carlos

April 22, 2007

Diane XD Nguyen said:

Dr. Vu, I just would like to let you know that i am very proud of you. I think your parents and your Big family too.I love your bio very much and am looking forward to see you soooooooooooon. God Bless You always, Diane Xdung

August 08, 2007

Nikki HM Jackson said:

Dr Vu, I am honored to have found my way to you. God is good and you are fabulous! Thank you for sharing your story and giving me an opportunity to say thank you through this comment form. Remain in His anointing always. ~nikki

November 12, 2007

Juan Cerbin said:

Dr. Vu Le totally rocks! I'm actually a high school teacher by "trade" and have had the benefit of moving around between Texas and California. I have met some really good dentists along the way but Dr. Vu Le has been the most thorough and considerate professional in his field. That is just to address what he does; but who he is also speaks volumes. He really does live his life with "Purpose" and that is truly admirable. Thank you Dr. Vu Le! J & J Cerbin.

December 19, 2007

beena said:

Dr. Vu Le I really appreciate the wonderful job you have done on my teeth. Each time it was very painless unlike my previous dentist. Iam looking forward to see you this saturday.Thank you once again!!

November 05, 2008

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