Modern Haus Dental’s Dr. Kristy Lee Earns Third Consecutive Bethesda Magazine Title
Chevy Chase, MARYLAND, Aug. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dr. Lee has been a practicing dentist for 15 years. What makes the recognition especially notable is how early it has come: Dr. Lee is only in her third year of practice ownership and earned both the Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine honors at the earliest point she was eligible.
“I’m grateful for the recognition, but what I’m truly proud of are the patients I get to care for,” said Dr. Lee. “That’s what this work has always been about.“
Dr. Kristy Lee with the patient in a modern dental office. She is explaining what his dental X-ray means
What the Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine Top Dentist Awards Actually Mean?
Both honors are determined through peer-reviewed survey processes, not paid placements or self-nominations. Washingtonian’s Top Dentists list is compiled by polling thousands of licensed dentists across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, who are asked to rate colleagues on criteria such as years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, and use of modern techniques and technology, with self-nomination and political bias explicitly discouraged.
Bethesda Magazine’s Top Dentists list follows a similar model, asking dentists and specialists in the region to evaluate peers on the same core factors: clinical skill, patient rapport, continuing education, and use of modern techniques. In both cases, dentists cannot pay for inclusion, and every nominee is checked against state dental board records to confirm active licensure and good standing before being published.
Dr. Kristy Lee’s individual recognitions can be viewed on her Washingtonian Top Dentist profile and her Bethesda Magazine listing, while Modern Haus Dental’s practice listing appears on Bethesda Magazine’s business directory.
What This Recognition Reflects About Independent, Woman-Owned Practices?
Dr. Lee’s repeated recognition arrives at a moment when two broader shifts are reshaping American dentistry:
- Women now make up the majority of new dentists entering the profession, yet ownership has not caught up — women still make up only about 38.5% of practicing dentists, and there remains a 16 percentage point gap in practice ownership between men and women early in their careers.
- At the same time, corporate dental chains and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) — many backed by private equity — now account for more than 1 in 4 new dentists entering the field, and a 2026 peer-reviewed study in Health Services Research found that private equity ownership is associated with higher list prices and a shift away from preventive care.
Modern Haus Dental remains fully owned by Dr. Lee, with no DSO affiliation and no private equity partner — a structure Dr. Lee credits with preserving the continuity of care and clinical judgment reflected in her peer recognition. “These awards are proof that patients and colleagues alike see the value of an independent, woman-owned practice,” said Dr. Lee.
About Modern Haus Dental
Modern Haus Dental is a woman-owned, independent boutique dental practice located at 5530 Wisconsin Ave #710, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, serving patients across Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Friendship Heights, and the Washington, DC area. Founded and led by Dr. Kristy Lee, the practice offers comprehensive, cosmetic, and preventive dentistry built on four values: connection, attention, integrity, and community.
Media Contact:
- Modern Haus Dental
- 5530 Wisconsin Ave #710, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Web: https://www.modernhausdental.com/
Dr. Kristy Lee and the Modern Haus Dental team posing together for a photoshoot
Press Inquiries
Dr. Kristy Lee DDS
hello [at] modernhausdental.com
(301) 986-4814
https://modernhausdental.com
5530 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 710, Chevy Chase, Maryland
