Dr. Molen
Dr. Bruce Molen was born in Great Falls, Montana and grew up in North Hollywood, California. Dr. Molen began his education at Brigham Young University where he met his wife Julie. Despite growing up a few miles away from each other they didn’t meet until they both moved out of state to attend BYU. While there Dr. Molen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.
Dr. Molen was selected from among hundreds of applicants to become part of UCLA’s first dental class of 27 students. During his summer breaks he worked as a carpenter building sets and movie props at Hollywood movie studios. He graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1968 with numerous awards for academic and clinical excellence. He is a member of the prestigious fraternity of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, which is limited to the top 10% of graduating dentists and distinguished dental educators nationwide.
Following his dental education, Dr. Molen served as a Captain in the Dental Branch of the U.S. Air Force. During his service he treated servicemen & servicewomen at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota for two years. It was during that time that he made the decision to continue his education and specialize in orthodontics.
Dr. Molen was accepted into the University of Washington’s prestigious orthodontic residency program in the fall of 1970, earning his orthodontic specialty certificate in 1972. Dr. Molen opened his office in Auburn in 1972, Enumclaw in 1982, and Sumner in 1997.
Dr. Molen feels that it is very important to stay abreast of all the new developments in orthodontics and has made continuing education his highest professional priority. He has always been on the cutting-edge of new technologies.
He has also been invited to give several lectures over the years at the annual American Association of Orthodontists meeting.
Dr. Molen is a member of several prestigious invitation-only international orthodontic study clubs. He is one of only a handful of doctors to hold simultaneous memberships in both the elite Schulman Study Group and the Pitts Progressive Study Club. Dr. Molen is a member of the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Seattle-King County Dental Society, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Washington State Society of Orthodontists, and the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists. Dr. Molen has passed the rigorous clinical dental boards of four states and is licensed to practice in Washington, California, Oregon, and Utah.
Outside of orthodontics, Dr. Molen makes family his top priority and feels that they are his greatest accomplishment in life. In addition to their 6 children Dr. Molen and his wife Julie have 15 beautiful grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and are hoping for a few more. Three of his four sons followed his footsteps into the dental field, including Dr. Rick and Dr. Aaron. He enjoys camping, carpentry, and traveling in his camper van—the interior of which he designed and built himself. Dr. Molen is described by friends and employees as a kind, caring, and generous man who is as honest as the day is long.
