A gorgeous smile goes a long way to improving the way you look.  Cosmetic dentistry is the discipline of dentistry in which the primary focus is to enhance a patient's teeth and smile, while also maintaining the health and function of the teeth.  Cosmetic dentistry improves a patient’s self-image – improving a patient’s smile often has a positive emotional and psychological impact on a person’s life. 

At the dental practice of Jenny Chen, DDS, we provide a full range of cosmetic dentistry services.  Are you missing one or more teeth?  We can place a crown to cover the tooth and restore it to its proper shape and size. Or if several teeth are missing, we can install a bridge to give you natural looking, artificial teeth.  If you need a combination of these treatments to attain the beautiful and straight smile that you desire, come in for an expert consultation with Dr. Jenny Chen to find out the cosmetic dentistry options that best fit your needs.

There are many new dental procedures and techniques used in cosmetic dentistry. They include, but are not limited to:  

• Porcelain veneers and inlays to fix broken/cracked, mismatched teeth, or correct gaps between teeth.
• Dental implants to replace missing teeth.
• Teeth bleaching and whitening to correct stained teeth.
• Laser dentistry to fix "gummy" smiles - where a disproportionate amount of the gums show when the patient smiles.
• Use of natural looking tooth colored fillings to replace unsightly silver amalgam fillings.
• Use of non-metal crowns to replace old crowns that show black lines.

After examining your teeth, Dr. Jenny Chen will discuss customized cosmetic treatments that are right for your smile.  Make an appointment for a consultation today!

A dental crown is tooth-shaped cap that is permanently cemented over a tooth to restore the tooth’s strength, shape and size, and improve its appearance. Once the crown is cemented into place, it will cover the visible portion of the tooth above and right at the gum line. Crowns can be used to hold weak, broken or cracked teeth together to prevent further fracturing. Crowns are also used to support large fillings, attach a bridge, or cover discolored or deformed teeth.  Crowns can also be secured to dental implants.

Two dental visits are usually required to install a crown.  First, Dr. Chen will prepare the tooth or implant for the crown.  Dr. Chen will grind and shape the tooth so that the crown can be fitted over it.  Next, the dentist will make an impression of the tooth and surrounding gums to be sent to a dental laboratory so that the crown can be created.  Dr. Chen will then fit a temporary crown in place over the tooth, until the permanent crown is ready. During the second visit, Dr. Chen will remove the temporary crown and cement the finished permanent crown onto the tooth.

Crowns generally last about five to eight years.  However, with good oral hygiene most crowns last longer.  Certain habits such as chewing on ice, fingernail biting, and grinding teeth should be avoided as they can do damage to the crown.

A dental bridge is a false tooth (known as a “pontic”) that can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. The pontic is centered between two attached porcelain crowns to create a fixed bridge.  The fixed bridge is permanently cemented to the two teeth on either side of the tooth gap.

There are several different types of dental bridges:

• Traditional bridge - a false tooth centered between two attached porcelain crowns.
• Resin bonded bridge - also known as a "Maryland" bridge, false teeth are fused together to metal bands and bonded to the back of the teeth on either side of the gap. This type of bridge is best used when the missing teeth are in the front of the mouth.
• Cantilever bridge – a type of bridge created to attach to only one tooth on either side of the tooth gap.

Dental bonding can be used for many reasons, such as restoration of chipped, broken or decayed teeth, to fill in gaps between the teeth, or to reshape or whiten your smile.  Bonding can also be used to attach bridges, and affix orthodontic appliances and fillings onto the teeth.

First, Dr. Chen will scoop a soft composite resin filling onto the teeth.  The dentist will then professionally sculpt and shape the composite filling.  Next, Dr. Chen will apply a high intensity light to the resin, which will harden the material.  Finally, the dentist will polish the surface to obtain a natural looking, smooth appearance that blends with the tooth.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically anchored into the jaw to secure a replacement tooth or bridge in place. Implants are permanent and are not reliant on neighboring teeth for support. They are a perfect option for tooth replacement because they look and feel like natural teeth.

Implants are ideal for patients who are unable to wear dentures, as the implant is placed directly into the jawbone to support permanently cemented bridges. Implants can be fabricated from various different types of metallic and ceramic materials that are compatible with body tissue.

Implant procedures can be performed in the dental office with local anesthesia. After the dentist surgically anchors the artificial root into the patient’s jawbone, the healing process can take up to six months.  Once fully healed, the replacement teeth are fitted and secured to the artificial root.

If you are missing most or all of your natural teeth, whether from tooth decay, periodontal disease, or from facial injury, a viable option is a complete denture that will allow your jaws to appear and function in a normal manner.  An complete denture can be custom made at the dental practice of Dr. Jenny Chen. These dentures are immediately placed in the patient’s mouth after any remaining teeth are surgically removed. This denture can even be worn while tissues are healing, which could take several months.  Typically, within six months, this denture will need to be realigned as gums will shrink while healing.

If you have some healthy remaining teeth left, removable partial dentures are an option.  A partial denture consists of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases, which are connected by metal framework.  Removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps called “precision attachments”, which are hidden so that they are nearly invisible. Crowns on your natural teeth that will be used for support can improve the fit and positioning of a removable partial denture.

Teeth Whitening

Everybody likes a brilliant, white smile.  Tooth whitening is a process that bleaches the tooth enamel to remove tooth discoloration and stains from teeth.  Tooth discoloration can be caused many factors, such as: beverages that stain (coffee, teas, and colas), tobacco, trauma, tetracycline staining, excessive fluoride, and even nerve degeneration.

Many dentists consider the teeth bleaching process the safest cosmetic procedure available today. Research and clinical studies show that while under the supervision of your dentist, whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide and/or hydrogen peroxide is safe for both teeth and gums.  These whiteners come in a gel form and are applied by the use of a custom-fitted mouth guard, which Dr. Chen will make for you.

If you are a candidate for tooth whitening, you should consider chair side tooth whitening at the dental practice of Dr. Jenny Chen. Bleaching sessions generally take from 30 minutes to one hour. The dental office can also provide you with a bleaching kit for home use and touch ups. 

At the practice of Dr. Jenny Chen, we are dedicated to general and family dentistry.  As your primary dental care provider, Dr. Jenny Chen is responsible for the general diagnosis, treatment, and management of dental services for everyone in your entire family.  She is highly educated and trained on all dental procedures and can consult with you for the best course of treatment for your dental needs.

As a general and family dental practice, our services include, but are not limited to:

Full mouth restoration, also known as reconstructive dentistry, is the treatment of severely debilitated teeth.  This may be the result of a poor bite, aggressive tooth wear, accidents to the mouth, advanced decay, or a multitude of other situations.  Full mouth restorations can involve many areas of dentistry including implants, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, veneers, crowns, bridges and cosmetic dentistry.  Since each patient is unique, Dr. Jenny chen will tailor each full mouth restorations to the individual.

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are used to repair rear teeth with a mild or moderate amount of decay. They can also be used to restore teeth that are cracked or fractured if the damage is not severe enough to require a dental crown. Dental inlays are used to treat teeth that have decay or damage within the top surface.  Onlays are used to treat decay that extends to one or more of the cusps.

Inlays and onlays can be made from gold, resin, or porcelain.  They are stronger than composite fillings, and more conservative than crowns because less natural tooth is required to be removed during the treatment.  Since the margins are invisible, they do not need to be placed below the gum line, which is healthier and easier on the gums.  They are bonded to the teeth to create a tight fit and restore the tooth’s strength. Porcelain inlays and onlays wear better than composite fillings, and are usually less expensive than crowns.   And because they can be created from tooth-colored materials, inlays and onlays are often used to replace metal fillings for patients who desire a more natural, aesthetic smile.

Come in for a consult with Dr. Jenny Chen to see if porcelain inlays or onlays are the right option for you!

A smile makeover is a comprehensive combination of cosmetic dental procedures aimed to enhance the beauty and appearance of a patient’s smile. The makeover focuses on correcting various problems, such as broken, chipped , crooked, missing, or discolored teeth. Dr. Chen can fix uneven, unsightly gums. The dentist can also dramatically change the length, width, color and shape of a tooth to create a smile that is even and white. Porcelain veneers and porcelain onlays are often used for many smile makeover procedures as they offer a natural look and feel. 

Advantages of Smile Makeovers include:

Consistency – by having multiple cosmetic procedures preformed by the same dentist, you will avoid the variances and differences that can occur when the same procedures are performed by several different dentists (each with different techniques and materials) over a longer period of time. 

Minimize time – by having a comprehensive Smile Makeover, Dr. Chen can group the cosmetic procedures in a more efficient manner so as to minimize office visits.

Save Money – Smile Makeovers are comprehensive so the patient can avoid redundant dental procedures.

Zoom! Teeth Whitening is an in-office bleaching process.  Zoom! Teeth Whitening treatment involves the use of a special light to accelerate the bleaching process.  First, a protective plastic coating is painted onto the patient’s gums surrounding the treatment area.  Once this protective coating hardens, it shields the gums during the bleaching process.  A hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel is then applied to the tooth enamel, and a special light is applied to accelerate the whitening process.  This light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and it helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth.  Use of the Zoom! Light increases the effectiveness of the whitening gel by 26%.  Whitening results can last anywhere from one to five years, depending on the patient’s ability to avoid staining agents.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that makes it possible for us to chew.  This joint allows your jaw to open and close, and allows jaw movement forward, backward, and sideways. The temporomandibular joint will only work properly if the lower jaw and its movements are synchronized.

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a condition that can be caused by strenuous physical activities, stressful situations, overuse of the muscles, or grinding of the teeth. TMD affects jaw muscles, the temporomandibular joint, and nerves where jaw movements become out of synch.  These habits can wear out the jaw muscles and lead to headache or neck pain. It can also result in sensitive teeth, injured soft tissues, muscle soreness, jaw discomfort, and headaches.  Other symptoms include difficulty opening and closing your mouth, and the jaw locking when talking, yawning or eating.

TMD is a treatable condition. Dr. Chen can create a custom nighttime mouth guard to help stop the patient’s teeth grinding. More severe cases can treated with physical therapy, ice and hot packs, and posture training.

TMD is usually cyclical and can return when you experience stress.  Come in for a consultation - Dr. Jenny Chen can recommend the right therapy for you.

Composite resin is an acrylic-based tooth-colored material which is made out of glass and resin.  Composite resin is the material favored by dentists for tooth fillings and for repairing defects in the teeth.  Although composite fillings tend to be a little more expensive than amalgam (silver) fillings, the advantage is that it is hard to distinguish composite from natural teeth. Composite is ideal for use on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important, but can also be used on back teeth as well.

Advantages of using composite tooth colored fillings:

• Unlike amalgam fillings, composite bonding will not expand and contract with temperature changes, which minimize the risk of tooth fractures.
• Composite bonded fillings can be prepared so that fluoride is released in the tooth, preventing recurring decay.
• Composite bonded fillings look like natural teeth.

A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of ceramic material which is placed over the natural tooth surface.  Veneers are used to cover discoloration and imperfections.  Porcelain veneers are also an effective substitution for crowns for the front teeth, as they can aesthetically change the size, color and shape of the teeth.  Porcelain veneers are resistant to staining – including stains from coffee, tea, and cigarettes, and last for years.

Porcelain veneers can be mounted using little or no anesthesia. Dr. Chen will first prepare the tooth by removing half a millimeter of the natural tooth, to allow for the thickness of the veneer. Next, the dentist will take a mold of the teeth, and the veneers will be fabricated from the mold.  Finally, Dr. Chen will permanently bond or cement the veneers to the natural tooth.  

Prosthodontics is the specialty of restorative and reconstructive dentistry procedures, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, implants and veneers. Prosthodontists will restore natural teeth or replace missing teeth and oral and facial tissues with natural looking substitutes. Treatments can involve various issues, including jaw and face abnormalities, congenital disorders, and oral/maxillofacial trauma, which all require advanced dental care.

Come in for a consultation - Dr. Jenny Chen will develop a treatment plan for you that will also achieve esthetic balance.

Lumineers are a special type of porcelain veneer used in cosmetic dentistry to correct stained, chipped, discolored or misaligned teeth.  Lumineers are much thinner than traditional veneers, so less of the natural tooth needs to be removed during tooth preparation.  With less tooth removal, the need for dental anesthetic is minimized.  Lumineers are made out of Cerinate porcelain, which is extremely durable.  This allows the veneers to be fabricated as thin as .2 to .3 millimeters.

Give us a call today and schedule a consult with Dr. Jenny Chen, to see if you are a candidate for Lumineers.

Invisalign® is an orthodontic treatment that is a remarkable alternative to traditional braces.  Unlike traditional braces, there are no irritating, ugly metal wires or bands, and they are virtually invisible.

Invisalign works through the use of a series of clear teeth aligners. These aligners are custom-molded, and are changed by the patient every two weeks.  The aligners gradually reposition the teeth little by little until they are perfectly straight.

The obvious benefit of Invisalign® is that they are removable - the patient can remove them to eat, brush and floss. They are convenient and easy to use.

Our Office
450 Sutter Street
Suite 1438
San Francisco, CA 94108

P. 415-986-9868
F. 415-986-9515