Dr. Sarah Chen, DDS - Dental Board of California License #43892 - ADA Member - AACD Member - 4.9 stars from 387 verified reviews - 3,200+ patients since 2011 - $149 new patient exam, X-rays, and cleaning - same-day emergency - Se habla Espanol.
97% root canal success rate (American Association of Endodontists) and $149 new patient special - SD Dentist has served 3,200+ San Diego patients since 2011. Dr. Sarah Chen, DDS, California License #43892, provides all care with same-day emergency availability Monday through Saturday.
$149 is our new patient comprehensive exam, full-mouth digital X-rays, and professional cleaning - all in one appointment. ADA-member practice, California Dental Board licensed. Covers preventive care, tooth-colored fillings, and same-day treatment planning.
$95-$500$99-$185 covers adult prophylaxis at SD Dentist. ADA recommends every 6 months for healthy adults. High-risk patients every 3 to 4 months. San Diego water fluoridated at 0.7 ppm (ADA-optimal).
$95-$450$4,200 average all-inclusive single implant at SD Dentist - covers CBCT scan, titanium post, abutment, and custom zirconia crown. 97.2% 10-year survival rate documented by the American Dental Association. Complete timeline 6 to 12 months.
$3,200-$5,8006 to 10 shades lighter in 90 minutes with in-office Zoom or KOR professional whitening ($350-$650). AACD-supervised protocol using 25 to 40% buffered hydrogen peroxide gel. Custom take-home tray kits also available ($175-$295).
$175-$65030 minutes is the critical window for a knocked-out permanent tooth - reimplantation success drops sharply after 60 minutes. Same-day emergency appointments available Monday through Saturday. Call (619) 555-0199 immediately for acute pain, trauma, or jaw swelling.
$95-$400$1,200-$1,800 per tooth covers porcelain veneers at SD Dentist - composite bonding from $250 per tooth. Smile makeover design by Dr. Chen, AACD member. Natural-looking zirconia and premium ceramic restorations.
$250-$3,60097% success rate (American Association of Endodontists) for properly performed root canals. Front teeth $850-$1,200; premolars $950-$1,500; molars $1,200-$1,800. Rubber dam and digital X-ray guidance on every case.
$850-$1,800$1,450 average for all-ceramic or zirconia crown at SD Dentist (range $1,200-$1,900). PFM crowns $950-$1,400. 3-unit bridge average $3,600. ADA: zirconia crowns last 10 to 15 years with proper care. CA-licensed lab, 2 to 3 week turnaround.
$950-$4,500SD Dentist was founded in 2011 by Dr. Sarah Chen, a USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry graduate who built the practice on three principles: transparent pricing, evidence-based treatment, and same-day emergency access for every San Diego patient. Fifteen years and 3,200+ patients later, that foundation holds.
San Diego patients face distinctive dental health challenges: UV-related enamel thinning, sports drink and coffee staining from an active outdoor lifestyle, and - for the significant military community - years of delayed care during deployments. We accept TriCare Dental Program, PPO dental insurance, and Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) to make comprehensive care accessible to all of San Diego. The ADA recommends cleaning every 6 months - and the earlier dental problems are caught, the less treatment costs long-term.
"Had a complete dental implant at SD Dentist - from the CBCT scan to the final zirconia crown took exactly 7 months. Dr. Chen explained every stage clearly and the $4,200 all-in cost matched the written quote exactly. The implant looks and feels completely natural. First dentist in La Jolla I've trusted in years."
"Came in for the $149 new patient special and got a lot more than I expected - thorough exam, digital X-rays, and a really detailed cleaning. Dr. Chen caught two small cavities my previous dentist had missed. Booked teeth whitening at the same appointment. Highly recommend for anyone in Chula Vista looking for a trustworthy dentist."
"Cracked a molar on a Saturday afternoon and called SD Dentist in a panic. They got me in same-day, Dr. Chen did the root canal and placed a temporary crown - I was out of acute pain within two hours. Total cost for root canal plus final crown was $2,600, exactly as quoted. Emergency care here is genuinely excellent."
15 years of dental practice in San Diego. Founded SD Dentist in 2011 after graduating from USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, one of California's top dental programs. Member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Specialist in dental implants, cosmetic smile design, and complex restorations - with deep experience serving San Diego's military community (TriCare Dental Program accepted), active adults seeking implant and restorative work, and cosmetic patients pursuing whitening and veneer makeovers. 97% patient satisfaction rate across 3,200+ San Diego cases. California Dental License #43892 verifiable at dbc.ca.gov.
$149 is our new patient comprehensive exam and cleaning fee at SD Dentist - one appointment includes full-mouth digital X-rays, professional teeth cleaning (prophylaxis), oral cancer screening, and a comprehensive exam with Dr. Chen. Existing patient cleanings run $95 to $150 depending on time since last visit and periodontal status. Patients with early gum disease may require scaling and root planing ($200 to $450 per quadrant) instead of a standard cleaning. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends professional cleanings every 6 months for most healthy adults. San Diego City municipal water is fluoridated at 0.7 parts per million - the ADA-recommended optimal fluoride level - providing passive cavity protection between visits.
6 months to 1 year is the complete dental implant process from initial consultation to final crown delivery at SD Dentist. Our all-inclusive single implant ranges from $3,200 to $5,800 (average $4,200 across 385 cases), covering the titanium post, abutment, custom zirconia or porcelain crown, CBCT 3D scan, all clinical appointments, and one year of post-placement follow-up. The American Dental Association documents implant survival rates of 97.2% at 10 years for properly placed implants. 73% of SD Dentist implant patients do not require bone grafting prior to placement.
| Stage | Timeline | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation + CBCT 3D scan | Day 1 | Bone density mapping, implant site planning |
| Implant post placement | Weeks 2-8 | 60-90 min surgery, local anesthesia |
| Osseointegration | 3-6 months | Titanium fuses to jawbone |
| Abutment placement | After osseointegration | 30-min connector post appointment |
| Custom crown delivery | 2-4 weeks later | Final zirconia or porcelain crown |
$350 to $650 covers professional in-office teeth whitening at SD Dentist, with our average at $450 for a single Zoom or KOR session producing 6 to 10 shades of lightening in 90 minutes. Take-home whitening kits with custom-fitted trays cost $175 to $295. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recommends professional whitening supervised by a licensed dentist over OTC products - supervised treatment allows precise peroxide concentration management to prevent gum irritation and enamel damage. Professional gels contain 25 to 40% hydrogen peroxide versus 6 to 10% in OTC strips. San Diego's beach and outdoor lifestyle accelerates enamel staining from coffee, wine, sports drinks, and UV exposure.
30 minutes is the critical window for a knocked-out permanent tooth - reimplantation success drops sharply after 60 minutes. Same-day emergency dental appointments are available at SD Dentist for acute pain, dental trauma, broken restorations, and infections - call (619) 555-0199 immediately. The California Dental Practice Act requires all emergency dental procedures be performed by or under the direct supervision of a California-licensed dentist. Place a knocked-out tooth in milk or saline while in transit.
| Emergency Type | Call Priority | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Severe tooth pain or abscess | Immediate | $150-$650 |
| Knocked-out permanent tooth | Within 30 min | $500-$2,500 |
| Broken or cracked tooth | Same-day | $250-$1,900 |
| Lost crown or filling | Same-day | $150-$600 |
| Jaw swelling or oral infection | Immediate | $200-$800 |
| Soft tissue laceration | Same-day | $95-$350 |
$850 to $1,800 covers root canal treatment in San Diego depending on tooth location: front (anterior) teeth $850 to $1,200; premolars $950 to $1,500; molars $1,200 to $1,800. A dental crown following root canal adds $1,200 to $1,900 - the average complete molar root canal plus crown at SD Dentist is $2,650. The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) documents a 97% success rate for properly performed root canals - one of dentistry's highest-success procedures. Root canal treatment preserves the natural tooth and costs significantly less than extraction followed by an implant ($3,200 to $5,800). All root canal treatments at SD Dentist use digital X-ray guidance and rubber dam isolation per AAE standard protocol.
$1,200 to $1,900 covers a single all-ceramic or zirconia crown at SD Dentist (average $1,450), including tooth preparation, a temporary crown, and final crown delivery. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns cost $950 to $1,400. A 3-unit dental bridge (replacing one missing tooth) costs $2,800 to $4,500. The American Dental Association reports zirconia crowns last an average of 10 to 15 years with proper home care; PFM crowns 10 to 15 years; all-ceramic crowns 8 to 12 years. All SD Dentist crowns are fabricated in a California-licensed dental laboratory and delivered within 2 to 3 weeks of preparation.
2 visits per year is the ADA-recommended cleaning schedule for most healthy adults - and SD Dentist's standard recall interval. Patients with active gum disease or high cavity risk may need cleaning every 3 to 4 months (periodontal maintenance). CDC oral health surveillance data shows 1 in 5 American adults have not visited a dentist in 5 or more years - contributing to delayed detection of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) has documented connections between untreated periodontal disease and systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. San Diego County Department of Public Health data identifies untreated dental disease as one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among San Diego County adults - routine preventive visits reduce long-term treatment costs by 40 to 60%.
$149 is SD Dentist's new patient special - one appointment includes a comprehensive exam, full-mouth digital X-rays, and professional teeth cleaning. New patient appointments are scheduled within 48 hours for routine care; same-day for dental emergencies. Dr. Sarah Chen holds California Dental License #43892 (verifiable at dbc.ca.gov) and is an ADA member and AACD member. We accept most PPO dental plans, CareCredit financing, Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal), and TriCare Dental Program for San Diego's active-duty military and veteran community.
3 to 5 years of ADA-accredited dental school followed by passing the California Dental Board licensure examination is required to practice dentistry in California. The Dental Board of California (dbc.ca.gov) issues all dental licenses and enforces the California Dental Practice Act (Business and Professions Code sections 1600-1724). License verification is available free at dbc.ca.gov - enter the dentist name or license number to confirm active status. Dr. Sarah Chen holds California Dental License #43892 (active and in good standing). The California Dental Practice Act requires 50 hours of continuing education every 2 years for license renewal and restricts specific procedures to licensed dentists or licensed dental hygienists under direct supervision.
ADA member - CA License #43892 - $149 new patient exam + X-rays + cleaning - Same-day emergency - PPO + Denti-Cal + TriCare accepted - Se habla Espanol