How to Choose a Prosthodontist in NYC

What a prosthodontist is

Prosthodontics is a dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association. A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed three more years of training after dental school, in a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The training focuses on restoring and replacing teeth: crowns, bridges, implant restorations, dentures, and complex cases that combine them. For a fuller overview, see what is a prosthodontist.

People looking for a prosthodontist in NYC usually want something reasonable: a clinician who is well trained, careful and honest about the options. Rankings and advertising cannot measure that. The steps below can help.

Confirm specialty training

Ask where and when the prosthodontist completed specialty training. Many general dentists restore implants and make dentures well. Specialty training matters most for complex or full-arch cases, earlier dental work that is failing, worn teeth, changes in the bite and difficult dentures.

What Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics means

A Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics has completed specialty training and then passed the board's examinations. These include a written exam and oral exams in which candidates present and defend treatment they have completed for their own patients. Becoming a Diplomate is voluntary, and not every prosthodontist pursues it.

Diplomate status is time-limited and must be renewed through the board's recertification process. To verify it, check the American Board of Prosthodontics website or contact the board directly. It takes a few minutes and is more reliable than any directory listing or advertisement.

What FACP means

FACP stands for Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists. The ACP is the national professional organization for prosthodontists. Fellowship is a membership category open to prosthodontists who are Diplomates of the American Board of Prosthodontics. It reflects that status within the organization and does not involve a separate exam.

Questions to ask at a consultation

• What are all of my options, including doing less or waiting?
• What is causing the problem, and how will the plan address that cause?
• What are the main risks, and how might this fail over time?
• What is the sequence of visits, and what is the typical timeline?
• Who does each phase, and who coordinates if a surgeon, periodontist, endodontist or orthodontist is involved?
• Which lab makes the restorations, and how are try-ins handled?
• What maintenance will this need, and what happens if something breaks?
• Can I have copies of my scans, photographs and plan?

Signs of a thorough plan

• It starts with a diagnosis. The plan explains why teeth are failing, whether from decay, gum disease, grinding, acid erosion or a collapsing bite, before proposing treatment.
• The records are complete. Expect photographs, scans, bite records, gum measurements and, when implants are being considered, a cone beam CT.
• More than one option is discussed, with the trade-offs in durability, maintenance, time and cost.
• Treatment is done in a logical order. Disease is brought under control first, then temporary or trial restorations where appropriate, then the final restorations.
• The causes are addressed or managed. For example, a nightguard to protect against grinding, or diet changes for acid erosion. Read more about worn teeth.
• The plan is written and itemized, with a realistic time range.

Digital records and why they matter

Cone beam CT, intraoral scanning and digital design let you see a plan before treatment begins. A digital design or printed mock-up can show the proposed tooth shapes, and implant positions can be planned around the final teeth. Digital records also give a baseline to compare against over time and are easy to share with other specialists. For more, see digital dentistry.

The laboratory relationship

Dental technicians make crowns, bridges, dentures and implant frameworks. How well the prosthodontist and the lab communicate affects shade, shape, fit and the number of adjustments. Ask where restorations are made, how shades are matched for front teeth, and how many try-ins to expect for larger cases. Labs can be in-house, local or remote. What matters most is clear communication and consistent quality control.

Red flags

• Pressure to commit at the first visit, or offers that expire the same day.
• Only one option offered, especially removing all the teeth when some might be kept.
• Little discussion of risks, maintenance or what happens if something fails.
• Treatment proposed before a full exam and records.
• A vague total with no itemized steps. See dental implant cost for what a complete quote includes.
• Promises of guaranteed results.
• Reluctance to share records or to discuss a second opinion.

A careful clinician welcomes questions. If you leave a consultation unsure what was proposed or why, ask again or get another opinion.

About Dr. Lal

Dr. Kunal Lal is a prosthodontist in New York City. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics (certified 2006) and a Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists. He earned an MS in prosthodontics (2002) and a DDS (2004) from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, after a BDS from Manipal (1996). He taught at Columbia from 2002 to 2010 and was Program Director of Graduate Prosthodontics from 2005 to 2008. He practices at LAL Dental, 245 E 50th St in Manhattan, alongside an in-house dental laboratory. Consultations are booked through laldental.com or by calling (212) 593-1212.

Questions

Short on time? Use the one-page scorecard for comparing NYC prosthodontists, or read how visits work at a prosthodontist in Midtown Manhattan.