Skip to content

Zen Dental Studio · 254 5th St, SoMa

A calmer kind of San Francisco dentist.

Comprehensive, evidence-based dentistry at 254 5th Street in SoMa, with honest recommendations, gentle care, and the time to be heard.

Book a Visit(415) 857-0150
The hand painted blue wave mural with gold suns along the corridor wall at Zen Dental Studio San Francisco
Two members of the San Francisco team in the mural corridor

Patient perspective

“They’re very calm and gentle. I’ve never felt so relaxed at the dentist.”
Kay T., Google review

What brings you in?

Pick one and we will point you to the right places.

In pain right now? Same-day emergency care at our San Francisco studio.

Emergency care

What We Do Here

The care you need, under one roof.

From routine cleanings to Invisalign, veneers, implants, and same-day emergency visits, everything happens here in SoMa with the same dentists, the same gentle approach, and clear pricing before any work begins.

Explore all services

Smile treatment

Every plan is designed digitally and priced in writing before anything is scheduled, and the result still looks like you.

Appointment types
InvisalignDental ImplantsPorcelain VeneersTeeth Whitening
Our San Francisco Invisalign team is a Gold+ provider with more than 500 smiles completed, and implants are placed fully guided, in-house.

Emergency care

We see dental emergencies the same day whenever the schedule allows, and treatment can often begin at that same visit. Call the studio and we will get ready for you, or book online and we will follow up right away.

Same-day help, by phone or online
Call (415) 857-0150Book onlineHow emergency care works

How We Care

The way we care for you, step by step.

A clinician at work behind a walnut partition at the San Francisco studio, with terracotta circle art on the wall

  1. Arrive

    a calm start

    By the time you arrive, the team has already verified your coverage and shared it with you in detail. Check in, settle in, and expect a minimal wait before you are called.

  2. Listen

    your priorities first

    We sit down with you first to understand your concerns and what a good outcome would look like for you.

  3. See

    images on screen

    Digital x-rays, 3D scanning, and CBCT imaging let your dentist show you what they see on screen in plain language, with AI-assisted diagnostics as a second set of eyes.

  4. Plan

    the decision stays yours

    You receive clear priorities and a written estimate before treatment, and the decision can go home with you for as long as you want it to.

  5. Care

    one team throughout

    From a cleaning to an implant, the same team and the same steady pace carry through the whole visit.

The walnut bench niche in the entry of the San Francisco studio, lit by a warm strip light, with the carved mandala in the alcove beyond
“It honestly feels more like a spa visit than a dental one: eye masks, Netflix, a massage chair.”
Tiffany N., Google review

The Visit

Comfort is part of the clinical plan.

We do everything we can to make your visit a comfortable one, and these amenities are here for you to enjoy.

  • Netflix during treatment
  • Heated eye masks
  • Organic cotton blankets
  • Fiji water and mindfulness drinks
  • Aromatherapy
  • Toxin-free oral-care products
  • Massage chairs
  • Noise-canceling headphones

In Our Patients’ Words

This is what we hear from our patients, visit after visit.

A treatment room at the San Francisco studio, with the powder blue dental chair, a round walnut mirror, and the frosted glass door
“Such a hidden gem. Really cozy, calming vibes that make you feel comfortable right away.”
Bryan B., Google review
  • “Zen goes above and beyond to ensure you haven’t missed anything.”
    CJ V., Google review
    Show this review in the featured card
  • “Every step is discussed with me beforehand, both the procedure and the cost.”
    Kevin C., Google review
    Show this review in the featured card
  • “She came up with a plan for my teeth that I feel really confident and good about.”
    Gracie A., Google review
    Show this review in the featured card

Technology

Five tools that make care gentler.

To provide the best care, we invest in the best tools. Advanced technology gives you more accurate diagnoses, gentler treatments, and better outcomes.

  • CBCT Imaging

    Three-dimensional clarity

    It allows us to see teeth, jaw, and bone in three dimensions, so treatment is planned around exactly what is there.

  • 3D Scanners

    Comfortable digital impressions

    A small wand replaces the tray of putty, capturing a precise digital model of your teeth.

  • Digital X-Rays

    Detailed, and right away

    Clear images in moments, easy to track over time, so small changes are caught early.

  • AI-Assisted Diagnostics

    A second set of eyes

    Smart software flags areas worth a closer look. Our providers will always make the final call.

  • Laser Dentistry

    A gentler touch

    Precision with a softer touch for the right procedures, often meaning less discomfort.

Two members of the San Francisco care team in white coats walking the studio corridor, with the pastel mural behind them
The light-filled treatment corridor at the San Francisco studio, with walnut cabinetry, plants, and a pastel mural at the end
Close-up of the carved Nepalese mandala on the plaster wall at the door of the San Francisco studio

Our Studio · Since 2018

A studio built around kindness, honesty, and calm.

Dr. Srijana Pokhrel opened the SoMa studio to bring modern dentistry and real warmth into the same room. The dentists below see patients on 5th Street, so your exam, your plan, and your follow-ups stay with one team.

Founder & Lead Dentist

Dr. Srijana Pokhrel, DDS

NYU College of Dentistry

Dr. Pokhrel trained at NYU College of Dentistry and has been practicing dentistry for more than ten years. She opened the SoMa studio to care for patients the way she always wanted to, and she treats patients here to this day.

Associate Dentist

Dr. Nina Carpenter, DDS

University of the Pacific

Dr. Carpenter trained at the University of the Pacific and has been practicing dentistry since 2017. She joined Zen Dental Studio in 2020, and her patients get the same calm, thorough care the studio was built on.

Associate Dentist

Dr. Mali McGuire, DDS

Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific

Dr. McGuire trained at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific and has been practicing dentistry for more than five years. Her care on 5th Street is gentle, thorough, and explained in plain language.

Read our story

Insurance & Payment

Clarity before commitment.

Insurance is complicated, and your relationship with your dentist should be simple. The San Francisco team confirms your benefits and puts estimated costs in writing before treatment.

Book a VisitCall (415) 857-0150

In-network with

We are in-network with MetLife, Aetna, Cigna, and many other PPO plans.

The front desk at the San Francisco studio, with a marble counter, a walnut plank wall, and the wave mural in view

How it works

  • Most PPO plansWe accept the majority of PPO dental plans and are in-network with many carriers.
  • Before your visitEmail your plan details to hello@zendentalsf.com and we will confirm your coverage.
  • Before treatmentYou receive a written estimate and the time to decide at your own pace, at home if you like.
  • More certaintyAsk us to submit a pre-determination and your insurer confirms coverage first, usually in four to eight weeks.
  • No insuranceThe Zen Membership is an in-office care plan, offered separately from dental insurance.

Plan participation and benefits vary, so the studio confirms your specific coverage rather than making a blanket promise. Quite a few of our patients have Delta Dental and choose to see us even though we are out-of-network with that plan.

hello@zendentalsf.com

Membership

The Zen Membership, for patients without insurance.

A simple in-office plan that keeps comprehensive care within reach, so cost never stands between you and the care you deserve.

Essential
$60 /month

One-time enrollment: $500

  • Two cleanings per year
  • 10% off all non-cosmetic treatments
  • $300 toward Invisalign
RecommendedComplete
$80 /month

One-time enrollment: $500

  • Three cleanings per year
  • 15% off all non-cosmetic treatments
  • $400 toward Invisalign

An in-office care plan, separate from dental insurance and never combined with it. Full plan details on the Patients page.

See full membership details

Plan Your Visit

Getting here is the easy part.

The studio is on 5th Street in SoMa, a few blocks down from Powell Street Station and close to Yerba Buena and Moscone.

The San Francisco Studio

Address
254 5th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Hours
Mon to Fri: 8am to 5pm, by appointment

Booking online takes under a minute, and the studio answers the phone during studio hours.

Book a VisitOpen in Google Maps

Parking

206 5th St garage, one block away

Between Tehama and Howard, around $20 to $30. The Fifth & Mission Garage at 833 Mission St is a five-minute walk and charges by the hour, around $5.

Transit

Powell St Station, BART and Muni

The closest station for both, a short walk up 5th Street.

Appointments

By appointment

Same-day emergency visits available by phone.

Questions

Asked at this studio.

These are the questions we hear most often at the San Francisco studio, answered in full.

Where should I park near the San Francisco studio?

The closest garage is at 206 5th St, between Tehama and Howard, one block from our door. Expect around $20 to $30 there. The Fifth & Mission Garage at 833 Mission St is about a five-minute walk and charges by the hour, around $5. Either one puts you a few minutes from your appointment.

Can I get there by BART or Muni?

Yes. Powell St Station is the closest stop for both BART and Muni, a short walk from our door at 254 5th St. Many of our patients find transit the easiest way to reach us downtown.

Do you take walk-ins in San Francisco?

We see patients by appointment rather than walk-in, so every visit gets the time it deserves. Booking online takes under a minute. If something urgent comes up, call the San Francisco studio at (415) 857-0150 and we will do our best to see you the same day.

Do you see dental emergencies the same day?

Yes. Call the San Francisco studio at (415) 857-0150 and we will fit you in the same day whenever the schedule allows. Emergency visits are booked appointments rather than walk-ins, so calling first means we are ready for you when you arrive at 254 5th St, SoMa.

Do you accept my insurance? What about Delta Dental?

We accept the majority of PPO dental plans and are in-network with many of them. Quite a few of our patients have Delta Dental and choose to see us even though we are not in-network with that plan. Send your insurance information to hello@zendentalsf.com and we will confirm your coverage before your visit.

Can I know the exact cost of treatment before I commit?

We always put our best estimate in writing before treatment begins. Insurance responses can vary, so if you would like certainty first, ask us to submit a pre-determination to your insurer. Depending on the plan, that takes about four to eight weeks. After that, you will know exactly what is covered.

What should I expect at my first visit?

Plan for about an hour. Your first visit starts with digital x-rays and a comprehensive exam, followed by a thorough, gentle cleaning. Your dentist walks you through what they see in plain language, and any recommendation comes with costs in writing. Nothing is scheduled until you say so.

Do you offer Invisalign, implants, and veneers at this studio?

Yes. Our San Francisco team plans and delivers Invisalign, dental implants, porcelain veneers, and whitening in the same studio where you get your cleanings. Invisalign is led by a Gold+ team with more than 500 smiles completed, and implants are placed fully guided, in-house.

How do I book online?

Choose San Francisco in our online booking and pick a time that works for you; it takes under a minute. If you would rather talk to a person, call (415) 857-0150 during studio hours and we will find a time together.

The bright, calm reception of Zen Dental Studio Mountain View

Our Other Studio

Also in Mountain View

The same standard of care on the Peninsula: 400 San Antonio Rd, Suite A, with free parking under the building, an easy walk from San Antonio Caltrain, and same-day crowns milled in-house.

Visit Mountain View

Minutes from downtown San Francisco

Ready when you are, in downtown San Francisco.

Book online in under a minute, or call us and talk to a person. Honest answers, care that is never rushed, and costs in writing before anything begins.

Book San Francisco(415) 857-0150
Book San FranciscoCall us