When your father is known all over the world as a leading orthodontist and expert in jaw joint growth and treatment and your mother is dual-trained in prosthodontics and orthodontics, dentistry becomes part of your early life. Dr. Ikeda chose to pursue the specialty of orthodontics with the intent to treat her patients like family – to make a tangible difference for them by helping them achieve beautiful, long lasting smiles, healthy bites, ease of breathing, and comfortable jaw joints that are in harmony with the face.

Dr. Ikeda was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Minnesota on her own at age 12 to study abroad. She fled the Midwest for warmer pastures and has loved the Bay Area since her early days at Cal. She graduated from UC Berkeley in the top 1% of her class with Highest Distinction in Integrative Biology and earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree, Masters of Science degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and Orthodontic Specialty Certification from UC San Francisco. UCSF is also where she earned her nickname of “ortho ninja.”

She is a course director at UCSF School of Dentistry and teaches orthodontic residents the technique of facial treatment planning for orthodontics using cephalometrics (a special x-ray technique for examining the facial structures and how they can change with orthodontics and growth). She volunteers there as an Assistant Clinical Professor to give back to her alma mater.

Dr. Ikeda continues her extensive research related to the temporomandibular (jaw) joints and has several publications in highly respected peer-reviewed journals. Her research has direct clinical application to our patient care. She is also a contributor for an orthodontic textbook written by her father, Dr. Kazumi Ikeda, titled TMJ 1st Orthodontics.

Dr. Ikeda, a board certified orthodontist, is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Roth Study Club International. Outside of orthodontics, she loves learning to speak different languages and is fluent in Japanese and English and is working on mastering Korean and French. When she is not in the office, she enjoys spoiling her French bulldog, traveling, photography, hiking, and snowboarding in the winter.

Dr. Righellis is known as a leading orthodontist in the Bay Area. Dr. Righellis earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from UCLA and his Orthodontic Specialty Certification from UCSF. He currently serves as Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF School of Dentistry. He also has lectured for orthodontic programs at Harvard University, Boston University, Arizona School of Dentistry, University of Colorado, and University of North Carolina. He is on the FACE (Functional and Cosmetic Excellence) international teaching faculty who teach other orthodontists around the world.

Dr. Righellis is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and maintains memberships in the American and California Dental Associations and the Alameda County Dental Society (Past President). He is also the leader of the Spears Study Club and an active member of several aesthetic dentistry and dental implantology study clubs.

In addition to lecturing on the national and international levels, Dr. Righellis has authored over 40 orthodontic journal articles and serves on Editorial Review Board for the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Dr. Righellis and his family enjoy many outdoor activities including stand up paddle boarding, snow and water skiing.

Raised in San Francisco, Dr. Ng attended college at UC Davis where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Microbiology and received the UC Davis “Outstanding Senior Award.” He then went on to earn his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from the prestigious UC San Francisco and was elected to the O.K.U. National Honorary Dental Society at UCSF. Proving to be a true “UC guy” through and through, Dr. Ng stayed at UCSF for his additional three years of specialty training in Orthodontics where he served as the Chief Resident of his class and was selected to be the recipient of the Dr. Righellis Endowed Scholarship Award. Upon receiving his Orthodontic Specialty Certification, Dr. Ng also completed his Masters degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at UCSF.

Dr. Ng loves the field of orthodontics as he sees it to be the mindful application of science coupled with the subtleties of art and aesthetics. Above all, he cherishes the opportunity to connect with patients from all walks of life on a personal level. Having tutored both children and adolescents while he was in college, Dr. Ng feels honored to be able to continue guiding his patients in a similar capacity throughout their transformative orthodontics journey.

Outside dentistry, Dr. Ng is passionate about music and singing, having sung bass in multiple choirs and acapella groups all his life. In fact, one of his proudest achievements is having served as the Music Director of the interprofessional UCSF Vocal Chords Acapella group for 3 years. Please ask Dr. Ng about his “back-up job” next time you are in the office!