Meet the Doctors behind your smile
Meet
Dr. Rael Bernstein
Orthodontist
Dr. Bernstein was born and raised in South Africa and attended the prestigious Wits Dental School, where he finished at the top of his class. He then completed his orthodontic specialty residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
After his residency, he accepted a university fellowship position, where he became a clinical assistant professor in the orthodontic department.
He yearned for a climate similar to South Africa and decided to relocate to Southern California, where he met his wife, Debbie, also a dental specialist.
He opened his first orthodontic practice shortly after.
Dr. Bernstein is committed to excellence in orthodontics. He has lectured nationally on self-ligation and early interceptive treatment to other orthodontists and dentists. He strives to provide the latest and greatest to all of his patients in a friendly, upbeat atmosphere.
In his spare time, Dr. Bernstein enjoys racing go-karts, working out, snowboarding in winter, and devoting himself to his wife and two daughters by going to birthday parties, ballet recitals, gymnastics classes, and more.
Meet
Dr. Naveen
Orthodontist
Dr. Naveen joins us from chilly Boston, MA, to sunny California. He completed his dental and orthodontics degree from Boston University with high honors, and also practiced general dentistry in the Boston area. He previously maintained a private practice in India along with his wife, in addition to being a part time orthodontic teaching faculty at the dental school.
Dr. Naveen was originally inspired to become an oral surgeon, but decided to become an orthodontist, as he truly believes that it’s the first specialty in dentistry that helps create lasting smiles. Dr. Naveen devoted his time to the Cleft Children Foundation, which aligned with his interest in making new smiles for those in need.
Dr. Naveen helps patients maintain realistic expectations with end results in mind, to make treatment simple, fun, and comfortable.
In his spare time, Dr. Naveen loves practicing yoga, biking, trekking and outdoor activities with his wife and two sons. He is excited to explore California and looks forward to indulging in delicious local wines and fruits.
Meet
Dr. Wendan Li
Orthodontist
Dr. Li graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience and went on to receive her DDS from the University of California, San Francisco. Subsequently, she returned to her alma mater Columbia, where she received her Certificate in Orthodontics and Master of Science and served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Li’s passion for orthodontics is driven by her own personal experience. She did not receive orthodontic treatment growing up like most kids, but pursued braces later in life as an adult, while in dental school. Undergoing treatment gave her a unique perspective into the life-changing power of orthodontics, which consequently led Dr. Li to pursue Orthodontics to obtain the knowledge to be able to give that same transformative joy to others. Dr. Li finds it a privilege and an honor as an orthodontist to help patients as they start their journey towards achieving healthy, beautiful, and confident smiles.
Her #1 advice for all her patients is to keep your teeth clean, wear elastics as instructed, and avoid foods that could break your braces, as this ensures that treatment is as quick and successful as possible. With Dr. Li as your orthodontist, she promises to make the patient experience seamless, by making you feel comfortable while having fun! She hopes her patients will look forward to coming to their appointments and stay motivated about completing their orthodontic journey.
When Dr. Li is not creating smiles, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, hiking, watching movies, listening to podcasts, and reading. She’s an avid home cook and baker and loves trying new recipes. One of her favorite cuisines is her native Chinese food because of the wide variety of dishes. Dr. Li lives in San Francisco with her husband and is a huge fan of the Warriors & Jeopardy!
Meet
Dr. Edmond H. Henken
Orthodontist
Dr. Edmond H. Henken has been creating winning smiles in South Orange County for 23 years. He received his Doctorate Degree in Dentistry from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. After practicing general dentistry for two years, he returned to Loma Linda University School of Dentistry to obtain a Master's Degree, which allowed him to specialize in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The training that Dr. Henken received at Loma Linda University School of Orthodontics, under the philosophy of Robert Ricketts, provided him with unique skills that focus on growth and development, allowing him not only to align the teeth, but also to develop balanced facial features and a winning smile.
Dr. Henken is passionate about being an orthodontist because of the opportunity he has to truly change and impact people’s lives every day. He wants every patient to follow their dreams and to feel confident in their new smile.
Dr. Henken and his wife, Dr. Tamra Taylor, DDS, will be relocating to Cloverdale with their children, Hans, 29, and twins, Sterling and Paris,25, and fox terrier dog, Diesel. He also has two adult daughters Heather and Heidi. He enjoys reading and watching his children sail and surf around the world. One of the highlights of his life was attending the Rio Olympics to watch his daughter Paris, compete in a sailing event that presented her the title of being 10th best sailor in the world.
Meet
Dr. Jennifer Stachel
Orthodontist
Dr. Stachel, known as Dr. Jenn by most of her patients, is an East Coast native from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Washington and Jefferson College and earned her DMD and certification in orthodontics from Temple University School of Dentistry. She received an award in public service from the American Association of Public Health Dentistry’s Pre-Doctoral Community.
After finishing school, Dr. Jenn moved to NYC. She worked as an associate for six years before opening her practice, where she has been treating patients for ten years.
Dr. Jenn aspired to be an orthodontist since the young age of nine, as she loved working and interacting with children. She truly believed that creating great, quality smiles would boost their confidence and enhance their quality of life. Her passion for orthodontics allows her to practice her love for art and science. She loves the diversity when treating patients. Dr. Jenn believes every patient is unique and challenging in different ways. She enjoys the thrill of problem-solving each case and genuinely providing patient-centered care. She considers herself a lifelong student. Dr. Jenn is constantly finding ways to improve her skills and learn new techniques with the end goal to ultimately transform and change as many smiles as possible that leave patients feeling satisfied and confident in their results.
Dr. Jenn understands that going through treatment requires discipline, some mental toughness, resilience, and dedication. She proactively helps and works with her patients to accomplish their goals. She believes that the sacrifices made to obtain your WOW! smile, if retained through proper care, will bring a more outstanding quality of life and additional confidence that patients aim to achieve.
Dr. Jenn’s main goal as your orthodontist, is to create a fun and non-threatening environment where each patient’s experience is individualized. She strives to provide customized care with exemplary service creating a membership experience where patients feel like they are the only patient in her office.
When Dr. Jenn is not at work, she enjoys playing many sports as she grew up a competitive athlete and played soccer in college. Her favorite sports to play are tennis and golf. Also, she enjoys skiing and frequently runs to stay in shape, and subsequently has participated in the NYC Marathon and a few others. She is a fashion fanatic! She once dreamt of owning a fashion line and attempted to start a golf clothing line named Chippindivas! She also enjoys traveling with her husband Nick and attending Broadway shows, plays, and the NYC Ballet. She loves attending musical performances of many genres, and Dr. Jenn loves everything sushi.