Welcome from Dr. Zhu
I grew up in Shanghai, China and came to the United States with my parents in 2000. My mom is a biomedical researcher and my dad is an engineer — and from an early age, I was drawn to work that was equal parts science and craft. Dentistry turned out to be exactly that.
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley, then completed my dental degree at the University of Michigan in 2016. After school I practiced throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in 2021 I founded Pinecone Dental Care here in SE Portland, after Dr. Jeffrey Nicholson retired.
But the most important part of my training didn’t happen in dental school.
After a few years in practice, I noticed a gap between what I’d been taught and what I saw patients actually needing. Dental school teaches you to treat problems in front of you — a cavity here, a crown there. What it doesn’t always teach you is why those problems happened, or how to prevent the next one. I wanted to practice differently. I wanted to practice better.
That search led me to the Kois Center in Seattle — one of the most rigorous post-graduate dental programs in the country. Founded by Dr. John C Kois, the curriculum is grounded in evidence-based science and focuses on comprehensive risk assessment: understanding the whole mouth, not just the chief complaint. The rigorous 250+ hours of training covers occlusion, facial aesthetics, dental implants, and complex restorative dentistry at a depth that goes far beyond standard dental education.
What that elite training changed is how I approach every patient. Before I recommend any treatment, I want to understand your risk profile — for decay, for gum disease, for bite forces and the mechanical problems those things can cause. A comprehensive exam at Pinecone Dental Care isn’t just X-rays and a cleaning. It’s a structured conversation about what’s driving what we’re seeing, what could happen if we don’t address it, and what your options truly are. I believe everyone deserves that level of clarity, not just a convoluted treatment plan handed across the counter.
I also believe that the best dentistry is often the most conservative — and that principle has led me deep into the world of biomimetic restorative dentistry. I’ve spent considerable time studying the foundational literature in this field, including Pascale Magne’s landmark textbook Biomimetic Restorative Dentistry and Francesca Vailati’s Three-Step Additive Prosthodontics. Biomimetic dentistry is built on a simple idea: restore teeth to mimic the natural mechanics of healthy teeth, using adhesive techniques that preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible. In practice, that means fewer crowns, more targeted approaches, and generally longer-lasting results. It’s an approach that demands more time and precision than conventional dentistry — but for patients who want to protect their teeth for the long haul, it makes a difference. Portland has very few dentists practicing this level of adhesive and biomimetic care, and it’s something I take seriously.
Outside the office, I enjoy spending my time with my wife Kristy, our newborn daughter Colette, and our dog Tube. I read constantly and attend advanced training every year, because dentistry keeps evolving and so should I.
If you’re looking for a dentist who will take the time to explain what’s actually going on in your mouth — not just fix the tooth in front of them — I’d love to meet you.
Schedule a visit by calling (503) 777-2284 or clicking HERE to request online.