The Chen Family: A Tale of Dental Excellence and Strong Family Bonds
The Chen family has captured the attention of online audiences with their shared careers in dentistry, striking appearances, and a close-knit relationship that thrives without strict parenting. Dr. Leon Chen, the family’s patriarch, and Dr. Jennifer Cha, co-founder of an international clinic chain, have five children—Nina, Audree, Niq, Aleq, and Nasdaq—all of whom have chosen to pursue careers in dentistry.
Their journey began with Dr. Leon Chen, who was born in 1966 in Changhua City, Taiwan, into a family of doctors. As a child, he was sent to live in a remote town in Michigan, where he struggled with feelings of loneliness and abandonment. Despite these challenges, he excelled academically, completing four years of university in one, achieving the highest score on the Dental Admission Test in 10 years, and gaining early admission to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine as one of its youngest students on a full scholarship.
During his training at Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago, Leon developed techniques that became industry benchmarks after turning complex, year-long treatments into streamlined procedures. His work laid the foundation for the family’s future endeavors in the field of dentistry.
Jennifer, born in South Korea and raised in the U.S., was a practicing periodontist when she met Leon in 1995. She returned to Northwestern University when she noticed Leon and decided “to bring him back to Las Vegas,” where her practice was based. Together, they established the Dental Implant Institute in 1998 and the OsseoFuse One Drill Implant System a decade later, both in Las Vegas. They consider their greatest achievement to be raising five children, each born a year apart, who all chose dentistry as their profession.
A Unique Educational Path
The couple encouraged their children to enroll directly in dental programs in Europe, and all five began their education at the Universidad Europea de Madrid in Spain before pursuing advanced training in the U.S. This decision was influenced by a 2014 family trip to Spain and the option to enter dental school immediately after high school, which cut four years from their training.
Nina, the eldest, completed postgraduate studies at New York University and specializes in periodontics and implant dentistry. Audree pursued further training at Tufts University in Massachusetts, earning a postgraduate degree and a joint master’s in prosthodontics. Niq trained at Columbia University in New York and also specializes in periodontics. Aleq followed Audree to Tufts and focuses on prosthodontics. The youngest, Nasdaq, completed postdoctoral training in implantology at New York University.
All five siblings have co-authored research papers, presented at international conferences, and now work for OsseoFuse One Drill Implant System while completing residencies in different cities.
A Relaxed Upbringing
Leon and Jennifer say they did not follow strict parenting methods, and their children all say they had a relaxed upbringing. “People think our parents were really strict,” says Audree, now 28. “But they weren’t strict at all. They were more like our friends.” “People on the internet may think our parents pushed or forced us to do all of this. If anything, our nanny was the one who taught us what was right and what was wrong,” Niq, 27, says.
Nina, 29, says her parents introduced the siblings to dentistry naturally without pressure. At the dinner table, they showed photos of clinic cases, and on weekends, they practiced suturing on pig heads. “In a way, I chose dentistry just because I wanted a reason to be closer to them,” Nina says.
They say any pressure to succeed came from among the siblings themselves. “Having siblings all one year apart, all going towards the same profession, kind of pushed us to have this friendly, competitive dynamic where we actually kind of push each other to graduate and become where we are today,” Niq says.
“It’s so nice to see five of them sit together and study. Since grade school, and into high school, and then into college, they still sit together to study for the final exam. They just help each other,” Leon says.
Diverse Interests and Unbreakable Bonds
Each of the siblings also has their own interests. Niq is keen on filmmaking. Nina enjoys baking. Audree is drawn to music, while Nasdaq has a talent for cooking that Jennifer says could see him “end up opening a restaurant.”
They say that even without dentistry, their bond would remain unchanged. “Of course kids fight when they’re young. But in the end you’re born with four best friends,” Nasdaq says.
