JAMES C FENG DDS
Dr. James Feng started his dental career in 1996 at UCLA. A general dentist, through experience and numerous hours of continuing education, he has developed high expertise in cosmetic dentistry using porcelain veneers and dental implants. In his downtown location, he has helped people from all walks of life in achieving their goals in dental health and esthetics. He is detail oriented and would not deliver anything less than pure excellence. Trusted by business owners, attorneys, bankers, movie director, international supermodel, professionals and their staff, he's praised as a hidden jewel among Los Angeles dentists. His compassionate and personal approach to dental care is reminiscent of the good old days of healthcare delivery when doctors really spent time with their patients. With a family of three residing in Pasadena, Dr. Feng is a rare find as he brings quality, care, and friendship to the people he sees. Praised and trusted by his patients, Dr. Feng's main source of growth is by referrals. He is also featured in Angieslist.com as a trusted dental care provider.

What to Ask the Doctors? These are good questions for knowledge to have. The current best cosmetic material is porcelain. The technology of dental porcelain has advanced over the years where nowadays porcelain veneers looks almost just like natural enamel. See photo gallery under COSMETIC DENTISTRY. Many people who you see in magazines may have porcelain veneers on their teeth. They are very natural looking and at the same time, doesn't require much removal of your tooth structure. The cost of veneers are typically high because they are very technical to do. Part of that cost is also a laboratory cost that the dentist needs to pay. Most dentists are willing to give prospective patients a free consultation to offer a customized package within a budget. Most smile makeovers involve veneers and can be done as quickly as 2-3 weeks.

For crowns, the best material which is also most bio-compatible is now porcelain-fused-to-zirconia. Zirconium Oxide when treated becomes an extremely hard substance used for a crowns substructure that was traditionally and typically metallic. Zirconia, being a white material, when combined with porcelain, yield a strong yet natural looking crown. Did I mention it's bio-compatible? People actually report feeling healthier when their old metallic crowns are replaced with these. Dental Implants is the currently the best option when replacing a missing tooth although the standard of care may still be a dental bridge or fixed denture. The benefit of dental implant is that can be long-lasting, healthy, and ultra-conservative. Conservation means NOT shaping adjacent teeth to fit a bridge.

Dental implants can stand alone by themselves. They are made of titanium because titanium has been known to be bio-compatible. The body actually produce bone cells that bind the implant body. Once that occurs, which may take up to 4 months, a tooth can be installed onto it without loosening.

Healthy Dentistry means using materials that are more compatible with the body. Although still contraversial, dental amalgams are being used less and less. In some countries, they are no longer used. Ask your doctor what materials are being used in restoring your teeth and make sure you are given different choices. You need to watch your budget as some materials may be more bio-compatible but cost significantly more. For example, to upgrade from an amalgam/silver filling to a white composite resin filling is a small cost difference. However, to upgrade to a porcelain restoration such as inlays or onlays, it's a larger cost difference.