Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Grace Liu
Dr. Grace Liu brings nearly three decades of dental expertise to the southern Delaware community, combining traditional dentistry with holistic and biological approaches to oral health. A 1996 graduate of NYU School of Dentistry with advanced training through the Columbia Presbyterian hospital system, she has built her career on a foundation of comprehensive care and community service.
Currently serving as owner of The Smile Place and co-owner of All About Smiles Dentistry P.A. and Biological Dentistry DE alongside her husband, Dr. Lewis Yu, Dr. Grace has established herself as a leader in integrative dental care. Her practice has spanned multiple states throughout her career, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, giving her diverse experience in serving varied communities.
Dr. Grace’s mission centers on providing exceptional dental care to children in southern Delaware. At The Smile Place, she has developed specialized holistic dental programs that empower parents and guardians with optimal healthcare solutions for their young patients. Her approach integrates traditional dental practices with biological and naturopathic principles, reflecting her commitment to whole-body wellness.
Dr. Grace continues to expand her expertise through ongoing education at prestigious institutions. She pursues advanced studies in neuromuscular dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dentistry and has completed comprehensive training in Naturopathic Medicine and Integrated Biological Dental Medicine. As a certified HealthyStart system provider, she offers innovative solutions for children’s airway and development issues.
Her educational journey includes specialized training at the American College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry (ACIMD), positioning her at the forefront of integrative dental care.
Dr. Grace maintains active membership in several professional organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Her commitment to the business community is demonstrated through her involvement with Wilmington Women in Business and NAWBO Delaware.
Beyond dentistry, Dr. Grace serves as a health minister from Hallelujah Acres and has extensive training in raw food nutrition and biblical healthy living principles. Her dedication to community service includes 20 years in children’s ministry and active participation on the board of Kingdom Resources for Christ (KRC). She also supports educational advancement through her involvement with the Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation.
Dr. Grace’s unique combination of clinical excellence, holistic health philosophy, and community dedication makes her a trusted healthcare provider committed to nurturing healthy smiles and supporting family wellness in southern Delaware.
Dr. La’ Chanda Akers
Dr. La’ Chanda Q. Akers grew up at the Jersey Shore. After graduating high school, she went on to attend the illustrious HBCU, Hampton University in Hampton, VA, where she acquired her bachelor’s in Biological Sciences.
During her time at Hampton University, this is where Dr. Akers confirmed her passion for serving while attending a Dental Mission trip in Kingston, Jamaica, with the Christian Medical and Dental Association. Dr. Akers went on to attend Meharry Medical College, where she continued in higher education to gain her Master’s in Health Sciences, and finally her Doctorate in Dental Surgery, DDS.
Dr. Akers is a professional student, and her passion for learning and teaching has been consistent throughout her career. Dr. Akers is currently a volunteer attending at Christiana Care-Dental General Practice Residency (GPR) Program, where she helps with sharing her knowledge and building up future dentists. Dr. Akers also works with the Special Care population to help make dental visits easier and doable by meeting people where they are.
When she is done being Dr. Akers, she enjoys being in the sun, dancing, grilling food, and spending time with her fur baby, Boston Terrier Chuck-E. You may see him pop up in the office. Chuck-E was literally raised at The Smile Place and loves children!
Dr. Akers loves to laugh, and you may hear her infectious laugh around the office. Dr. Akers also leads a women’s book club where she gets to encourage and be encouraged by Christ-followers in order to continue growing in the wisdom, gentleness, and love that is needed to carry out her various passions.
Don’t be shy! You can stop her and have her pray with you anytime, just ask. She tries to keep joy in her heart, as you may notice her humming a simple tune throughout your visit, just making up a song or sugar bug story to help ease your kids through any visit.
Dr. Akers wants everyone to know she loves what she does because she has a passion for health and restoration!
Dr. Tang C Chen
Tang C Chen, DMD, has been a licensed dentist in Delaware since 2023, having passed his DE board examination with a perfect score. He is an associate general dentist at The Smile Place and his practice philosophy is to care for every child as if they were his own, with patience, integrity, and compassion.
He believes that by practicing a healthy lifestyle is the best preventative approach taken to maintain optimal oral health and overall well being. He strives to build health alongside his patients through better nutrition, sleep, exercise and breathing techniques.
Dr. Chen grew up in New York and South Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2014 and his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry in 2018, from Temple University’s College of Science and Technology and Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, respectively. Following graduation, he helped provide dental care to the under served communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania prior to coming to private practice in Smyrna.
Dr. Chen brings over a decade of training and has extensive clinical experience in general and children’s dentistry. Continuous learning with literatures from the Journal of Dentistry for Children further honed his skills to provide quality, comprehensive dental care for your child.
Dr. Chen lives with his wife and dog in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. When not working, you can catch him spending quality with his family, swimming, fishing, exploring new cultures through food, and watching the Eagles game.
