Dr. Cary Goldstein is what other Atlanta cosmetic dentists measure against. He is a past international president of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, named a Top Dentist by Atlanta Magazine every year since 2017, and a professor at the Dental College of Georgia. His private practice is in Buckhead.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Cary Goldstein, DMD | Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist
U.S. PAST PRESIDENT, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ESTHETIC DENTISTRY (2020) | TOP DENTIST, ATLANTA MAGAZINE 2017-2026 | PROFESSOR, DENTAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA
The Credentials That Set Him Apart
The American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry does not issue memberships. It extends invitations. Only 106 dentists hold active fellowship worldwide. Dr. Goldstein served as its U.S. Past President in 2020, the highest elected position in the organization. Nothing in his peer group in Atlanta comes close to it.
Atlanta Magazine has named him a Top Dentist every year since 2017. That recognition is peer-nominated and independently verified, not a purchased listing. It is the standard Atlanta residents use to evaluate dental specialists, and he has held it continuously for nearly a decade.
He holds a faculty appointment at the Dental College of Georgia, where he teaches cosmetic and restorative dentistry to the next generation of practitioners. Since 2022, he has served as a dental expert witness, applying the same clinical standards in legal proceedings that he applies in practice.
His work has been covered by CNN Vital Signs, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, Simply Buckhead, and The Atlantan. He appeared on the AJC front page in 2025.
He Teaches the Dentists Who Learn This Work
Dr. Goldstein has lectured in over a dozen countries since 1984, more than 100 presentations to date, covering cosmetic and restorative technique for practicing dentists. His audience is not patients. It is other dentists looking to raise their clinical standard.
He co-authored Imaging in Esthetic Dentistry, a clinical textbook used in professional dental education. He has designed instruments now part of the Hu-Friedy catalog and a crown preparation kit manufactured by Brasseler USA, tools named for him that other dentists use in their operatories every day.
He is a Key Opinion Leader for DenMat, SprintRay, Ori, and MicroCopy. DenMat for lasers and no-prep veneers. SprintRay for chairside 3D printing. Ori for digital scanning. MicroCopy for precision dental burs. These are not honorary titles. They are working relationships with manufacturers who want to know how their technology performs in the hands of a clinician doing high-volume, complex work.
Trained by the Person Who Wrote the Textbook
Dr. Goldstein’s father, Dr. Ronald Goldstein, is one of the most recognized figures in American cosmetic dentistry. He is the author of the field’s foundational textbooks, Esthetics in Dentistry, a clinician whose work shaped how esthetic dentistry is practiced and taught. For eleven years, Dr. Cary Goldstein practiced alongside him as a partner in the family practice. That was not incidental to his training. It was the foundation of it.
What he learned in that room was not just technique. It was clinical judgment: how to evaluate a case, what to recommend and what not to, the standard of work that holds up over time. His father, now retired, remains one of the few people whose clinical opinion he actively seeks. The full story of the Goldstein family’s century in Atlanta dentistry is on the About page. The short version is this: he did not start from zero.
How He Approaches Your Treatment
Dr. Goldstein trained in prosthodontics at USC in Los Angeles, the specialty that addresses the full mouth: function, structure, and appearance together. That foundation shapes how he evaluates every case. He is not looking for the fastest path to an aesthetic result. He is looking for the right one.
His philosophy is conservative by design. He does not recommend treatment he would not pursue himself, and he does not add procedures because a patient might say yes to them. He will tell you what your teeth actually need, what can wait, and what does not need treatment at all.
For complex cases, including full-mouth restorations, extensive cosmetic work, and patients who have seen other providers without resolution, he takes the time to understand the clinical history before he touches anything. The consultation is part of the treatment, not a formality before it.
What He Treats
Dr. Goldstein’s caseload runs from single-tooth cosmetic procedures to full-mouth reconstructions. A significant portion of his patients come to him after unsatisfying results at other practices, cases where the treatment was technically completed but the outcome was not right. That is the type of problem his training is built to solve.
Cosmetic and restorative services at Goldstein Dental Center include porcelain veneers, dental bonding, teeth whitening, dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and full-mouth restoration. The practice also provides family dental care, including cleanings and exams for patients of all ages.
Book a Consultation
If you are considering cosmetic or restorative work and want an honest assessment of your options, start with a consultation. Dr. Goldstein will tell you what he sees, what he recommends, and what he would do if he were in your position.
Serving patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Marietta, and the greater metro Atlanta area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best cosmetic dentist in Atlanta?
There is no single answer, but the credential that carries the most weight among dentists themselves is fellowship in the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. Dr. Cary Goldstein is a past international president of that organization, the highest elected position in esthetic dentistry. He has also been named a Top Dentist by Atlanta Magazine every year since 2017, a peer-nominated recognition that is independently verified.
What makes Dr. Goldstein different from other cosmetic dentists in Atlanta?
Most cosmetic dentists are general practitioners who have added cosmetic services to their menu. Dr. Goldstein trained in prosthodontics, led the field’s most selective credentialing body as its international president, and has spent decades teaching advanced technique to other dentists. His practice handles cases that other providers have not been able to resolve.
How do I know if cosmetic dentistry is right for me?
The consultation is the right place to start. Dr. Goldstein will review your dental history, assess your current condition, and tell you what your options are, including what does not need treatment. He does not recommend procedures without a clinical reason to do so.
Does Dr. Goldstein offer veneers and teeth whitening in Atlanta?
Yes. Porcelain veneers and professional teeth whitening are among the most common cosmetic services at Goldstein Dental Center. Dr. Goldstein’s approach in both cases starts with understanding what the patient is trying to correct before recommending a specific treatment path.
Is Dr. Goldstein accepting new patients?
Yes. New patient consultations can be requested online or by phone. For complex restorative or cosmetic cases, the initial consultation may involve diagnostic records and imaging before a treatment plan is presented.
What is the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (AAED)?
The AAED is an invitation-only professional organization for dentists who specialize in esthetic dentistry. Fellowship is extended by peer nomination and requires demonstrated clinical excellence. Only 106 dentists hold active fellowship worldwide. Dr. Goldstein served as its U.S. Past President in 2020, a role that involves setting clinical and educational standards for the organization’s membership.