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Choosing well
How to choose the best prosthodontist in NYC for you: what to check
This is a short scorecard of what you can verify about any prosthodontist in New York City, Dr. Lal's own answers are filled in as a worked example. It is not a ranking or a comparison with any other office.
The short answer
No ranking can tell you who the best prosthodontist in NYC is for your teeth. You can check a few things that point to careful work: specialty training, Diplomate status, how the plan is made, and how openly the options and fees are explained. The scorecard below works for any office, and checking one takes a few minutes.
Why "best" is your decision
Online ratings describe how patients felt about their visits. They cannot reliably show whether a crown fits at the margin, whether the bite was planned or whether a bridge will still work years from now. Those results depend on diagnosis, planning and follow-up, and you can ask about each of them.
Searching for the "top prosthodontist NYC" is a reasonable place to start, but it is not a way to choose. For background on specialty training and a longer list of questions, see choosing a prosthodontist. This page is the short version: what to check, and how to check it.
The scorecard
| Criterion | Why it matters | How to check | Dr. Lal's answers (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty training | A prosthodontic residency is dedicated training in crowns, bridges, implant restorations and dentures | Ask where and when the residency was completed | MS, post-doctoral prosthodontics, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, 2002 |
| ABP Diplomate status | Shows the prosthodontist has met the board's training and examination requirements | Look up the name on the American Board of Prosthodontics website, or contact the board | Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, certified 2006 |
| ACP fellowship | Shows that status within the national prosthodontic organization | Ask, or check with the American College of Prosthodontists | Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists (FACP) |
| Records before a plan | A plan should rest on an exam and the records the case calls for | Ask which records are taken, and whether you can have copies | Ask at consultation |
| 3D imaging and scans | Cone beam CT shows the bone and anatomy where implants are being considered. Scans record the teeth and bite. | Ask whether imaging is done in the office or referred out | Cone beam CT and intraoral scanning (iTero, Primescan) in the office |
| Preview of the result | A wax-up or mock-up helps you judge proposed tooth shapes before the final work is made | Ask whether you will see a design or trial teeth before the final work | Digital design (exocad) and 3D printing in the office. Whether a mock-up suits your case: ask at consultation |
| Implant planning | Planning implants around the final teeth helps the restoration fit the bite | Ask whether implants are planned digitally and whether a surgical guide is used | Master's research and Journal of Prosthodontics papers (2006) on stereolithographic surgical templates for implant placement |
| Lab relationship | Shade, shape and fit depend on how well the clinician and the technician communicate | Ask where restorations are made and how try-ins are handled | In-house dental laboratory (LAL Dental Laboratory), CEREC milling and a zirconia furnace in the office |
| Who does the surgery, who restores it | Implant cases often involve a surgeon and a restoring dentist. One person should lead the plan. | Ask who places implants, who restores them and who coordinates | Ask at consultation |
| Maintenance plan | Crowns, bridges and implants can have complications over time, so follow-up matters | Ask about recall visits, nightguards and what happens if something chips or loosens | Ask at consultation |
| Written plan and fees | An itemized plan lets you compare offices fairly | Ask for the plan and fees in writing before you commit | Ask at consultation |
| Alternatives, including doing less | Sometimes the sensible choice is a smaller repair, monitoring or waiting | Ask: what happens if we do less, or nothing for now? | Ask at consultation |
How to use it
- Compare offices on the same rows. For a large case, a second consultation is reasonable if the diagnosis or the options are still unclear.
- Weigh the rows to fit your case. For a single crown, ask about the tooth itself, the gums, the fit, the bite and the lab. For a full arch, the plan, the imaging and who coordinates the surgeons matter more.
- A blank is a question, not a verdict. Many answers only come out in conversation.
- Compare plans, not totals. Two plans with different fees may include very different work.
What the scorecard cannot tell you
Credentials and equipment do not guarantee a result. How restorations last also depends on gum health, the bite, grinding, diet and home care. Systematic reviews of implant-supported bridges report that technical problems, such as chipped porcelain or loose screws, are fairly common over several years. Regular maintenance is part of the plan, not an extra. Ask every office how it handles these problems when they happen.
What happens at a first visit with Dr. Lal
- Conversation. What is bothering you, what you would like to change, and any past treatment you have had.
- Records review. X-rays, scans or plans from your dentist or another office, if you bring them.
- Exam. Teeth, gums, bite, jaw joints and any existing crowns, bridges, implants or dentures.
- Imaging if indicated. For example, a cone beam CT when implants are being planned or a question needs a 3D view. Not every visit needs it.
- Written options. The choices, including doing less, with the trade-offs. For larger cases this often follows a second visit for full records.
It is reasonable to take a plan home and compare it with another office's plan. If you already have a plan and want it reviewed, see second opinions. Dr. Lal's full background is on the about page, and the office's equipment is described under digital dentistry.
Where
LAL Dental, 245 E 50th St, between Second and Third Avenues in Midtown East. Call (212) 593-1212, or book a consultation through laldental.com. For how visits are usually spaced for patients who work or live in Manhattan, see a prosthodontist in Midtown Manhattan.
Questions
Does this page say who the best prosthodontist in NYC is?
No. That is for you to judge. This page lists what you can check about any prosthodontist, Dr. Lal included, so you can compare facts instead of claims.
How do I check whether a prosthodontist is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics?
Use the American Board of Prosthodontics website or contact the board directly. Diplomates keep active status through periodic recertification, so check current status, not just the year it was first earned.
Is it reasonable to see more than one prosthodontist before deciding?
For larger treatment, yes. Bring the same records to each visit and compare the written plans line by line, including what each one leaves out.
What should I bring to a first visit?
Bring recent x-rays or scans from your dentist, any earlier treatment plans, a list of your medications and a few notes on what bothers you. Sending records ahead of time can avoid repeat imaging.
Does a higher fee mean better work?
Not necessarily. Fees reflect how complex the case is, the materials, the lab work, the number of visits and whether other specialists are involved, so compare what each plan includes.
Sources
- American Board of Prosthodontics, Recertification
- American College of Prosthodontists, GoToAPro
- The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms, Ninth Edition. J Prosthet Dent 2017
- Pjetursson BE et al. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses after a mean observation period of at least 5 years. Clin Oral Implants Res 2012
- FDA, Dental Implants: What You Should Know
Educational information from the professional website of Dr. Kunal Lal, DDS, MS, FACP. Updated November 14, 2026. Not a diagnosis or a substitute for an examination.
Consultations
Talk it through with Dr. Lal.
Consultations take place at LAL Dental, 245 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022. Call (212) 593-1212 or book online.