Patient-focused dental care in Renton, WA · Dr. Susan Chu & team · 425-430-0400
Yes. Cedar Dental Group is welcoming new patients who are looking to establish care with a trusted dental practice in Renton, Washington. Whether you've recently moved to the area, are returning to dental care after a gap in coverage, or are simply looking for a practice that takes more time with patients than you've experienced elsewhere, the team is glad to hear from you. Call 425-430-0400 or visit cedardentalgroup.com to schedule your first appointment.
Cedar Dental Group works with a number of insurance carriers and is listed as an in-network provider on several major plan directories, including Delta Dental PPO. Patients with Regence, Cigna, United Healthcare, Ameritas, and other carriers have also established care at the practice. To confirm whether your specific plan is accepted, call the office at 425-430-0400 — the team can verify your benefits and give you a clear picture of your coverage before your appointment. If you've recently changed jobs or gained new coverage, reaching out promptly is the right move.
Not at all. A significant number of new patients at Cedar Dental Group come in after a gap of one to ten or more years, often for reasons that had nothing to do with neglect — lost insurance coverage, a provider who retired, or simply life getting in the way. Dr. Susan Chu and the team approach every patient without judgment, and their goal at your first visit is to understand where you are, explain what they find, and work with you on a plan that makes sense for your oral health going forward. Your starting point is just your starting point — not something to apologize for.
Cedar Dental Group hears this from new patients regularly, and the team is genuinely experienced in working with people who are nervous about dental visits. The approach is to go slowly, explain what's happening at each step, and never pressure patients to proceed with anything before they're ready. Oral sedation is available for patients who want a deeper relaxation option during procedures — it helps you feel calm and drowsy, and many patients have little to no memory of their appointment afterward. This is something you can request when you schedule. If you've had a painful or dismissive experience at a previous practice, sharing that history with the team when you call helps them prepare for your visit in a way that accounts for your specific concerns.
The practice provides a full range of general, cosmetic, restorative, endodontic, and advanced periodontal care under one roof. Dr. Susan Chu handles routine cleanings, exams, dental crowns, dental implants, clear aligners, Zoom in-office teeth whitening, and smile enhancements. Dr. Joe Dutner is the practice's in-house endodontist and manages root canal therapy and endodontic treatment. Dr. Jaewon Kim, a board-certified periodontist, provides gum grafting, periodontal surgery, bone grafting, and dental implants for gum disease and full-arch restoration. Having all three specialties available at one location is a meaningful advantage for patients who would otherwise need outside referrals.
A standard first appointment at Cedar Dental Group typically includes a comprehensive dental exam and digital X-rays. The exam covers a visual assessment of your teeth and soft tissue, a periodontal evaluation to check gum health, and an oral cancer screening. Digital X-rays use less radiation than traditional film and provide clear, immediate images that the team can review with you during the visit. First appointments are structured to give Dr. Chu a complete picture of your oral health so she can make well-informed recommendations rather than working from limited information.
Yes. Cedar Dental Group offers clear aligner treatment for adults who want to straighten their teeth without traditional metal braces. The practice can assess your candidacy for aligners during a consultation, discuss what treatment would involve for your specific case, and walk you through expected timelines and outcomes. If you're currently in orthodontic treatment and recently moved to the area — or had braces placed elsewhere and need continued care — the team is glad to discuss how they can support you going forward.
Yes. Root canal therapy is performed in-house by Dr. Joe Dutner, Cedar Dental Group's endodontist. Having an in-house endodontist means patients who need root canal treatment don't have to be referred to a separate specialist practice — the care happens in a familiar environment with a team that already knows your history. Root canal therapy involves removing the infected or damaged tissue from inside the tooth, cleaning and shaping the root canals, and sealing the tooth. Most patients describe the procedure as feeling similar to a filling — uncomfortable by its nature, but manageable with proper anesthesia.
Gum grafting is a surgical procedure that addresses gum recession — the process by which gum tissue pulls back from the tooth surface, exposing the root. Recession can cause tooth sensitivity, increase the risk of decay on the exposed root, and affect the appearance of your smile. The procedure involves taking a small amount of tissue (typically from the palate or a donor source) and attaching it to the area of recession to restore coverage of the root. At Cedar Dental Group, gum grafting is performed by Dr. Jaewon Kim, a board-certified periodontist. Whether grafting is appropriate for your situation depends on the extent and cause of recession, which Dr. Kim assesses during a periodontal evaluation.
These are three distinct procedures that address different clinical conditions. Gum grafting restores gum tissue that has receded and exposed the tooth root. Periodontal surgery — including flap surgery and regenerative procedures — is used to treat more advanced gum disease by accessing areas below the gumline that can't be reached through deep cleaning alone, and to regenerate lost bone and tissue support around teeth. Bone grafting rebuilds jawbone structure that has been lost due to tooth extraction, advanced gum disease, or other causes — often as a preparatory step before dental implant placement. Dr. Jaewon Kim performs all three procedures and will clearly explain which treatment addresses your specific diagnosis before recommending a course of action.
Yes. Dental implants are available at Cedar Dental Group as part of the practice's restorative care. An implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone to function as an artificial tooth root, onto which a crown is attached once the implant has integrated. For patients who also need bone grafting before implant placement — because bone volume has decreased after a tooth extraction or from gum disease — Dr. Jaewon Kim can perform that preparatory procedure at the same practice, streamlining the overall treatment timeline. Whether implants are appropriate for your situation depends on your bone density, gum health, and overall oral health, which are evaluated during a consultation.
Some mild sensitivity after a filling is normal and usually resolves within a few days as the tooth settles. Significant or worsening pain — particularly pain triggered by drinking, chewing, or breathing — that doesn't improve within a few days after a filling warrants a follow-up call to the practice. In some cases, pain after a filling indicates that the nerve is more involved than the initial exam revealed, and additional treatment may be needed. Call the office at 425-430-0400 and describe what you're experiencing so the team can assess whether you need to be seen promptly.
Yes. When you establish care at Cedar Dental Group, the team can assist with requesting records and X-rays from your previous provider. Having prior X-rays and treatment history available at your first visit gives Dr. Chu a more complete picture of your oral health and helps avoid duplicate work. The office will walk you through what's needed to initiate a records transfer — typically a signed release authorization — and can coordinate directly with your previous dental office if they are reachable.
Yes. Cedar Dental Group welcomes patients seeking a second opinion on dental diagnoses or treatment recommendations. If you've recently been told you have a cavity, need a crown, or require periodontal treatment, and you'd like a second set of eyes before proceeding, a limited exam appointment can be scheduled for that purpose. Bring or send any recent X-rays from your current provider — the team will review them, conduct their own assessment, and share their findings with you clearly and without pressure to commit to treatment on the same visit.
Yes. Cedar Dental Group offers Zoom in-office teeth whitening, which delivers noticeably more consistent and more dramatic results than over-the-counter strips or trays. The Zoom system uses a professional-grade whitening agent applied in a controlled clinical setting, producing results in a single appointment that typically take weeks to achieve with store-bought products — and often exceed what those products can accomplish regardless of time. Whitening works best on natural tooth enamel and is most effective when performed after a cleaning, on healthy teeth. Dr. Chu can assess whether you're a good candidate and what kind of result is realistic given your starting shade.
Yes. The practice accommodates same-day or adjacent scheduling for couples when availability allows. When you contact the office, let the team know you'd both like to be seen and they'll look for a time that works for both of you. Having your insurance information — and your spouse's, if you're on different plans — when you call helps the team confirm benefits and set expectations for both appointments at the same time.
Contact the office at 425-430-0400 and let the team know the situation, including the nature of the chip and when he's available. The practice will do its best to find an appointment that fits the window of his visit home. For a chipped molar, the appropriate treatment depends on the location and extent of the chip — it may range from a simple bonding repair to a more involved restoration if the chip is significant. Describing what happened when you call helps the team estimate the time needed for the appointment.
Yes. The practice is located in Renton, conveniently accessible from Tukwila, Kent, Burien, and Newcastle, and serves patients from across South King County and the broader Seattle metro area. A number of current patients travel from neighboring communities specifically because Cedar Dental Group offers specialist-level care — including periodontics and endodontics — in one location, reducing the need to travel to multiple offices for different types of care.
Call the practice at 425-430-0400 to speak with the team and get scheduled, or visit cedardentalgroup.com for more information. The practice is located at 280 Hardie Ave. SW, Suite 3, Renton, WA 98057. When you call, let the team know whether you're a new or returning patient, what type of appointment you need, and any scheduling preferences — they'll work to find a time that fits your life, including early morning and late afternoon slots when available.