Dr. Cary Goldstein is a prosthodontist, a specialist whose entire training was built for cases like this. He has been doing implant restorations in Atlanta since 1986. The restoration is the part you live with. It should be done by someone who knows it from every angle.
Why Prosthodontic Training Matters for Implant Restorations
Most dental practices in Atlanta offer implant restorations. Very few are performed by a prosthodontist.
Prosthodontics is the dental specialty devoted to replacing missing teeth and restoring compromised ones. A Certificate of Prosthodontics requires completing a post-doctoral residency program, with training focused specifically on crowns, bridges, dentures, and implant restorations. It is a specialist designation, not a continuing education credential. Dr. Goldstein completed his at the University of Southern California in 1986.
He spent the next 16 years as a member of the Academy of Osseointegration from 1994 through 2010, as the field matured around him. He has spent the decades since applying that foundation in clinical practice, teaching other prosthodontists at the Dental College of Georgia, and serving as an expert witness in dental malpractice cases involving restorative work. The expert witness credential matters: courts and opposing experts rely on his judgment to define what correct implant restoration looks like, and what the consequences are when it is done wrong.
The practical difference a prosthodontist makes: the crown that replaces your tooth has to match surrounding dentition in color, shape, and contact points. It has to distribute bite forces correctly so it lasts decades. It has to look like a tooth. None of that is automatic. It requires training.
What Goldstein Dental Center Provides (and What We Don’t)
Goldstein Dental Center handles the planning and restoration phases of implant treatment. Surgical placement is performed by Dr. Bruce Edelstein and Dr. Christopher Pesut, who handles approximately 90% of cases referred by Dr. Goldstein.
This is the correct specialist model for implant care. Periodontists and oral surgeons are trained to place implants. Prosthodontists are trained to restore them. What distinguishes the approach here is the sequence: the restoration is planned before any surgery takes place.
Using cone beam CT imaging, Dr. Goldstein assesses bone volume and site conditions, then designs the position and dimensions of the final restoration. That information is passed to the surgical team so the implant is placed to serve the crown, not the other way around. The result is a restoration that fits and functions correctly from the start, rather than one that has to compensate for placement that was not planned with the final outcome in mind.
Most practices refer to a surgeon and then wait for whatever comes back. This is not that.
Types of Implant Restorations
Goldstein Dental Center provides the following implant restorations:
Single Implant Crown
A single missing tooth replaced with a crown attached to one implant post. This is the most common scenario and the best long-term alternative to a dental bridge for patients with adequate bone density at the site.
Implant-Supported Bridge
Two or more implants support a fixed bridge spanning a gap of multiple missing teeth. Adjacent healthy teeth are not altered.
Implant-Retained Denture
A full or partial denture anchored to implants. Eliminates the shifting and fit problems of traditional removable dentures and restores normal chewing function.
Full-Arch Restoration (All-on-5 / All-on-6)
Complete upper or lower arch replacement using multiple implants to support a fixed restoration. At Goldstein Dental Center, full-arch cases are planned with 5 to 6 implants rather than 4. With only 4 implants, a single failure requires the entire restoration to be remade from scratch. With 5 or 6, a single failure can often be managed without replacing the full appliance, saving the patient significant time and expense. A permanent solution for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth in one arch.
Implant Crown Materials
Material selection is matched to each patient’s clinical situation. Options include zirconia, all-ceramic restorations, lithium disilicate (EMax), porcelain-fused-to-metal, and full metal where indicated. Dr. Goldstein discusses material options with each patient as part of the restoration planning process.
The Implant Restoration Process at Goldstein Dental Center
Consultation and Evaluation
The process begins with a consultation at Goldstein Dental Center. Dr. Goldstein reviews your dental and medical history, examines the implant site, and in most cases takes a cone beam CT scan. This imaging provides a three-dimensional view of bone volume and density, the location of nearby nerves, and the sinus floor for upper jaw cases. Without it, the planning is incomplete.
At this stage, Dr. Goldstein designs the restoration outcome and establishes the implant position specifications the surgical team will work from.
Coordination with the Surgical Team
Surgical placement is performed by Dr. Bruce Edelstein or Dr. Christopher Pesut. The surgical phase includes the implant placement procedure itself and, where required, any preparatory work: tooth extraction if the tooth being replaced is still present, bone grafting if bone volume is insufficient, or a sinus lift for upper jaw posterior cases.
Goldstein Dental Center coordinates this phase directly. You are not handed a referral and left to manage two separate practices independently.
Healing Phase (Osseointegration)
After the implant is placed, it goes through osseointegration, the process by which the titanium post fuses with the jawbone. This takes three to six months in most cases, sometimes longer when bone grafting was required. A temporary restoration keeps the space closed during healing.
Final Restoration
Once osseointegration is complete, you return to Goldstein Dental Center. Dr. Goldstein places the abutment and the final crown, bridge, or denture. This phase involves shade matching, emergence profile calibration, and bite adjustment so the restoration functions and looks exactly right.
What Makes a Great Implant Restoration
The implant post is placed by a surgeon. The crown is placed by Dr. Goldstein. Both facts matter.
The crown is what you see, what you bite with, and what everyone around you sees. It has to integrate with the surrounding teeth. It has to hold up under the full load of everyday use for potentially 25 or 30 years. Getting it right requires precision in material selection, crown preparation, shade matching, and bite calibration. These are skills developed over decades of focused restorative practice.
Dr. Goldstein also serves as an expert witness in dental malpractice cases involving restorative work. That means courts, attorneys, and opposing experts recognize his command of what correct implant and crown work looks like, and what the consequences are when it fails. Most practices offering implant restorations in Atlanta cannot say the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental implants cost in Atlanta?
The total cost of an implant restoration includes the surgical phase and the restorative phase at Goldstein Dental Center, covering the abutment and final crown, bridge, or denture. Costs vary based on the type of restoration, whether preparatory work such as bone grafting is required, and the materials selected. Contact our office for a consultation and detailed cost estimate based on your specific situation.
How long do dental implants last?
Implants placed and restored correctly have a documented lifespan of 25 years or more, with many lasting significantly longer. Longevity depends on the quality of surgical placement, the precision of the restoration, and the patient’s ongoing oral health habits. The crown on top of the implant is typically the component that eventually needs replacement, usually at the 15 to 25-year mark depending on wear and the material used.
Do dental implants hurt?
The surgical placement procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients report less discomfort than expected. There is typically soreness and swelling in the days following surgery, managed with over-the-counter pain medication. The restoration phase at Goldstein Dental Center does not involve surgery and is generally no more involved than a standard crown appointment.
Does dental insurance cover implants?
Coverage varies significantly by plan. Most traditional dental plans classify implants as a major restorative procedure and cover a percentage of eligible costs, subject to annual maximums and waiting periods. Some plans exclude implants entirely. Goldstein Dental Center accepts dental insurance directly and assists with the filing process, including submitting necessary radiographs and documentation. Contact our office with your plan information and we can verify your benefits before treatment begins.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Most adults with adequate bone density and good general health are candidates. The primary requirements are sufficient bone volume at the implant site (or the ability to build it through grafting), no uncontrolled systemic conditions that would affect healing, and healthy gum tissue. Dr. Goldstein evaluates candidacy during the initial consultation, which includes cone beam CT imaging to assess the implant site precisely.
What is the difference between implant placement and implant restoration?
Implant placement is the surgical procedure in which a titanium post is placed into the jawbone, performed by an oral surgeon or periodontist. Implant restoration is the process of designing and placing the crown, bridge, or denture that attaches to the post. At Goldstein Dental Center, Dr. Goldstein handles the planning and restoration phase; surgical placement is performed by Dr. Bruce Edelstein or Dr. Christopher Pesut. The two phases require different specialist training, and doing both well requires a surgeon and a prosthodontist working from the same plan from the start.
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