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Research · Awards · Academic roles
Research and Awards of Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee
Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, the board-certified orthodontist at Yonsei Baro near Isu Station, Seoul, is an author of four SCI(E)-indexed papers, has received Korean Association of Orthodontists awards in 2020, 2024 and 2025, and in 2026 serves as a peer reviewer for AJO-DO. She is a member of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists.
Research and recognition at a glance
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Journal papers | Four SCI(E)-indexed papers, in orthodontics and biomedical engineering |
| Main research themes | Moving teeth with skeletal anchorage (mini-screws); stability after corrective jaw surgery; facial asymmetry |
| Awards | KAO Commendation (2025); Excellent Poster Awards at KAO congresses (2020, 2024); KAO best presentation award |
| Peer review | Reviewer for the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO), 2026 |
| Societies | Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, Northern California Component — one of three Korean members |
| Teaching | Adjunct Professor of Orthodontics, Yonsei University; Invisalign instructor for university hospitals |
Selected journal publications
Dr. Lee is an author of four papers in journals indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) or its Expanded edition (SCIE). Three are listed here with a plain-English summary of what each study is about.
- “New TSAD-based systems expanding the scope of distalization: clinical insights and applications”
Seminars in Orthodontics
Temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs) are small mini-screws placed in the jawbone to give the orthodontist a fixed anchor. This paper discusses newer TSAD-based systems for distalization — moving teeth towards the back of the mouth — and how they can widen the range of cases where that approach is practical, for example to create space or reduce protrusion. - “Relationship between Preoperative Maxillomandibular Transverse Discrepancy and Post-Surgical Stability in Class II Malocclusion”
Applied Sciences , 2024
Some adults with a Class II bite (the lower jaw sitting back relative to the upper) need corrective jaw surgery together with orthodontics. This study looks at whether a mismatch in width between the upper and lower jaws before surgery is related to how stable the result is afterwards. - “Substrate Dependent Stability of Conducting Polymer Coatings on Medical Electrodes”
Biomaterials , 2012
An earlier biomedical-engineering study examining how the underlying material (the substrate) affects the durability of electrically conducting polymer coatings used on medical electrodes.
Other research presentations
- AACR Annual Meeting 2026 (poster). A poster at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting on using artificial intelligence to evaluate how suitable a protein is as a drug target, based on immunohistochemistry (tissue-staining) images.
- IFMBE Proceedings, 2011. A study of how pupil size can appear distorted in anterior-segment photographs (images of the front of the eye).
This breadth, from biomaterials and imaging to clinical orthodontics, reflects a long-standing interest in imaging and measurement, which is central to how orthodontic diagnosis is done today. See the technology used at the clinic .
Awards and academic recognition
Awards from the Korean Association of Orthodontists (KAO) and recent international academic roles, listed by year.
| Year | Award or recognition |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Peer reviewer, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO) |
| 2026 | First Oral Case Presentation, Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists meeting |
| 2025 | KAO Commendation, for research on the stability of surgical-orthodontic treatment |
| 2024 | Excellent Poster Award, 57th KAO Annual Scientific Congress |
| 2020 | Excellent Poster Award, 53rd KAO Congress — post-surgical changes in skeletal Class III bites with facial asymmetry |
| 2019 | Presentation, KAO congress |
| 2018 | Presentation, KAO congress |
Dr. Lee has also received a KAO best presentation award. Outside dentistry, she received prizes at the Konst art exhibition and the Korean dentists’ art exhibition in 2024. Read more in her full profile .
What is the Edward H. Angle Society?
The Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists is a professional society named after Edward H. Angle, widely regarded as the founder of modern orthodontics. It is organised into regional components and is known for its emphasis on case-based learning: members present the full records of treated patients so colleagues can examine and discuss the results.
Dr. Lee is a member of the Northern California Component and one of three Korean members. At the society’s 2026 meeting she gave the First Oral Case Presentation, presenting a treated case to fellow members for review.
What does an AJO-DO peer reviewer do?
The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO) is the official journal of the American Association of Orthodontists. Before a study is published, journal editors ask specialists in the field to review it: to check the methods, question the conclusions and recommend whether it should be accepted. Dr. Lee serves as a peer reviewer for AJO-DO in 2026.
Why does research matter for your treatment?
Research awards do not guarantee any individual result. What they show is an orthodontist who reads, questions and contributes to the evidence behind treatment. For patients, Dr. Lee’s own work connects to a few specific concerns:
- Protruding mouth and crowded teeth : skeletal anchorage can sometimes create space by moving teeth backwards.
- Underbite and jaw asymmetry : her 2020 Excellent Poster Award study looked at changes after jaw surgery in skeletal Class III bites with facial asymmetry.
- Adults who may need surgery combined with orthodontics: her 2024 paper and 2025 commendation focus on what keeps those results stable.
Dr. Lee will always explain the options that suit your own teeth and face, including when a simpler approach is enough. Read about how she plans treatment .
Questions about Dr. Lee’s research
What is a TSAD in orthodontics?
TSAD stands for temporary skeletal anchorage device, often called a mini-screw or mini-implant. It is a small screw placed in the jawbone for the duration of treatment to give a stable anchor point, so teeth can be moved without unwanted movement of other teeth. It is removed afterwards. Dr. Lee explains whether one would help in your case at the examination.
Why does an orthodontist study stability after jaw surgery?
When the upper and lower jaws are significantly mismatched, orthodontics is sometimes combined with corrective jaw surgery performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The orthodontist prepares the teeth before surgery and finishes the bite afterwards, so understanding what keeps those results stable helps with planning. Dr. Lee’s 2024 paper and 2025 commendation relate to this question.
How is the Angle Society different from other orthodontic societies?
Many orthodontic associations are open to all qualified orthodontists. The Edward H. Angle Society is known for its focus on presenting and critiquing the full records of treated cases among peers. Dr. Lee belongs to its Northern California Component, one of three Korean members, and gave the First Oral Case Presentation at its 2026 meeting.
Do research awards mean my treatment result will be better?
No award can promise a particular result, and every patient responds differently. Awards and peer-review roles show that an orthodontist keeps up with, and contributes to, current evidence. What matters for you is a careful diagnosis, a plan explained clearly, and the same orthodontist following your case through to retainers.
Last updated October 2026
Publication summaries describe what each study is about in plain English; they are not medical advice or a description of study results.
Talk to Dr. Lee about your case
Questions about jaw surgery, skeletal anchorage or a complex bite? Book an examination and Dr. Lee will explain your options in English. Isu Station Exit 2 · Open until 9 PM Mon & Thu · Saturdays 9 AM–2 PM.