Frequently asked questions

Yes! Central Park West Dentistry offers same-day emergency dental care on the Upper West Side, including evenings, weekends, and most holidays as long as we have emergency appointments available. Call 212-579-8885 to speak with our team and schedule a visit right away.

Yes, Central Park West Dentistry is open Saturdays, Sundays, and most holidays for emergency dental care. Same or next-day visits are often available. We’re also open for appointments until 8pm during the week. We know that dental problems don’t follow a 9–5 schedule.

We welcome people without insurance and offer pay-over-time options. For many urgent issues, getting care right away can prevent more costly treatment later. We’ll talk you through your options so you can make an informed decision. Central Park West Dentistry’s new patient special is $199 for a problem-focused exam and x-rays to diagnose the issue. Treatment is additional.

A dental emergency is any issue involving your teeth, gums, or jaw that causes pain, swelling, bleeding, or puts your oral health at risk if it’s not treated promptly. You can learn more on our blog here.

Common dental emergencies include toothaches, infections or abscesses, broken or cracked teeth, swollen or bleeding gums, lost fillings or crowns, loose or missing veneers, dental trauma from accidents or falls, and knocked-out or loosened teeth. Sudden jaw pain, facial swelling, or signs of infection like fever or pus should also be treated urgently.

Not every dental problem feels like an emergency at first, but even mild discomfort can signal something more serious beneath the surface. If you’re unsure whether your situation counts as an emergency, it’s always better to reach out. Our team can help assess your symptoms and let you know how quickly you should be seen.

Yes, we provide personalized care for everything from small cavities to more advanced decay. Our tooth-colored fillings are strong, natural-looking, and mercury-free.

Yes. Central Park West Dentistry provides gentle, anxiety-friendly dental care on the Upper West Side of NYC, with our team specifically trained to support patients who feel nervous about visiting the dentist. We take time to listen to your concerns, explain every step before we begin, and move at a pace that feels right for you.

To help you stay relaxed, we offer:

• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
• Numbing gel before any injections
• Noise-reducing earplugs and dark glasses
• Cozy blankets
• TVs in treatment rooms
• Wi-Fi throughout the office
• A calming, hospitality-inspired reception area
• Coffee, tea, and Kind Bars

Whether you’ve avoided the dentist for years, have had a difficult experience in the past, or simply feel uneasy in a dental chair, our team will work with you to make care feel safe and manageable.

Most people benefit from a dental cleaning and exam every six months. If you have a history of gum disease or other concerns, we may recommend more frequent visits to maintain your oral health.

A dental wellness visit is a preventive checkup that includes a professional cleaning, a comprehensive exam, and any necessary X-rays. At CPW Dentistry, we use this time to check for cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other signs of trouble so we can catch problems early and keep your teeth and gums healthy.

At least once a year. The health of your mouth can change in a short amount of time, so we want to be able to catch problems while they’re small, to save you unnecessary expense.

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see a dentist when the first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday.

Before your baby’s teeth come in, you can use a piece of gauze moistened with water to remove plaque from teeth and gums. Once your baby has several teeth, you could use a baby toothbrush with a small head and a tiny amount of toothpaste.

Bleaching procedures can change your natural tooth color by removing both deep and surface stains. In-office (chairside) whitening and at-home (tray) whitening both rely on bleaching. A light-activated whitening session in a dentist’s office, sometimes called chairside bleaching, can result in instantly and often dramatically whiter teeth. However, after a year or so of eating and drinking normally (coffee, tea, soft drinks), your teeth become slightly discolored again and develop new stains. A custom made tray created by your dental hygienist, known as in-home bleaching is typically worn for several hours a day or overnight for two weeks. When you notice new staining, you can wear your trays again to take the stains off and achieve your desired shade. When in-office whitening is done at our office, we also make you complimentary custom made trays to allow for such touch-ups. Everyone responds differently to different whitening procedures, but be aware: clean teeth will always whiten better. Some people respond well to whitening procedures, while people with gray teeth or other severe discoloration may require porcelain veneers or bonding to achieve the goals desired. Your dentist and dental hygienist can determine what’s right for you.

Central Park West Dentistry offers dental sealants, which are a thin coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent tooth decay. The painted on sealant quickly bonds into grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel. Dental sealants are beneficial for all ages! Ideally, children should have sealants done on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as they come in. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.Typically, sealants can last up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for signs of wear at your dental check-ups. Your dental hygienist can replace sealants as necessary. Keep in mind that it is still possible for decay to get under a sealant that wears out, so it’s important to have regular x-rays taken to help your dentist examine these areas.

We have digital x-ray machines that limit the radiation beam to the small area being x-rayed. Digital x-rays have 17 times less radiation than traditional film x-rays. It’s important to have regular check-up x-rays to allow your dentist to detect disease and other conditions much sooner than by examination alone. These are usually taken once a year unless there’s a specific issue we’re monitoring.

Central Park West Dentistry’s new patient special for people without dental insurance is $450 for your first visit, which includes a cleaning, full set of x-rays, comprehensive exam, oral cancer screening, and fluoride treatment.

Most of Central Park West Dentistry’s dentists are in-network with Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, United Concordia Elite, and Premera Blue Cross plans.  We also accept most major PPO plans like MetLife and Guardian. If you have any questions about your plan, we are happy to do a complimentary benefits check for you and let you know all about your coverage.

We don’t currently participate in any Medicaid or marketplace plans, but we have new patient specials, memberships, and pay-over-time options like Sunbit to help make care more accessible.

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization. HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization. Our office works with all types of PPO insurances because these plans allow you the freedom to choose any provider you’d like to see, whether they are in or out of network. We are in-network with many PPO plans.

We are not in-network with any HMO or DMO plans. These plans require that you choose an in-network dentist from a list of providers, and then see that specific provider for all your care. That’s because HMO/DMO dentists receive a check each month based on the number of patients assigned to him or her. HMO/DMO providers can be expected to perform services for a deeply discounted rate. On the other hand, PPO dentists only receive money from the insurance company if services are rendered.

Usually, patients who have an HMO/DMO plan will notice their choice of dentists is quite limited because fewer offices opt to participate in this kind of plan. However, out of pocket costs are generally lower with HMO/DMO plans than PPO plans, and have fixed co-payments. Having a PPO plan allows you to access a larger number of dentists providing higher quality care, but sometimes at a greater out-of-pocket cost. Additionally, if you have a PPO plan you can see a specialist without a referral, but if you have an HMO/DMO plan you usually need to obtain a referral before seeing a specialist.

Absolutely. However, even though you may have two dental benefit plans, there is no guarantee that both plans will pay for your services. Some secondary plans will not pay until you have exhausted the entire maximum of your primary coverage. In most cases, even if both plans pay, the payments from all insurers will not add up to more than the total charges.

Yes. Unlike traditional insurance, dental benefits are not meant to cover all oral healthcare needs. The dental policy is simply a benefit to offset a portion of your cost of care. Your dental coverage is not based on what you need or what your dentist recommends. It is based on how much your employer pays into the plan. Our office will file claims and estimate your coverage for you, but if the insurance company declines to pay, any portion of the bill not covered by insurance is your responsibility. Luckily, our office provides some of the most flexible payment options around to help you manage any out-of-pocket expenses.

Sometimes, in order to control costs, insurance companies may reduce your benefits using the following methods:

Bundling: two different procedures were performed on the same tooth, but the insurance company combines it into one procedure.

Downcoding: the dental plan changes the procedure code to a less complex or lower cost procedure than was actually performed (for example, a white filling was performed but they changed the code to a silver filling).

Alternative treatment: if there is more than one way to treat a condition, the plan will pay only for the least expensive treatment. For example, your dentist recommended an implant, but the plan may only cover less costly dentures.

Delaying payment: the insurance company may not pay your claim for many months, and ask for additional information multiple times.

Not medically necessary: the insurance company may deny payment stating that they did not receive enough proof of necessity. You can appeal this process with a letter from your dentist, including supporting photos and x-rays to explain the treatment decision.

A dental plan may not cover conditions that existed before you enrolled in the plan. For example, benefits will not be paid for replacing a tooth that was missing before the effective date of coverage. Even though your plan may not cover certain conditions, you may still need the treatment to keep your mouth healthy.

A dental plan may limit the number of times it will pay for a certain treatment. But some patients may need a treatment more often to maintain good oral health. For example, one plan may cover dental wellness or gum therapy visits twice a year, while another allows four times a year. If a patient needs a dental wellness or gum care visit four times a year, but their plan only covers cleanings or gum care twice a year, the other two would be out-of-pocket. It’s important to make treatment decisions based on what’s best for your health, not just by what is covered in your plan.

A waiting period may be imposed if you have a new plan, for some or all dental services. This means you and your employer must pay premiums for a period of months (usually 6 to 12 months) before you can utilize your benefits.

Yes, plans can and do change. Even though you may have the same insurance, your employer may opt to change the level of coverage at any time, which could improve or reduce your covered benefits. It is very important that you let us know if your plan changes, or if you get a new insurance card, so that we can update our records.

Central Park West Dentistry is a 2026 Castle Connolly Center of Excellence. Castle Connolly recognizes health systems, hospitals, and dental practices who provide an outstanding level of high quality care. This status is awarded to organizations that have recognized top dentists on staff.

Yes — our office at 1881 Broadway, 4th floor, is wheelchair accessible, with elevator access from the lobby and an accessible treatment area. If you have specific accessibility needs or accommodations you’d like us to prepare for in advance, please call 212-579-8885 before your visit and our team will help.

Yes. Central Park West Dentistry welcomes patients of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. Our team is committed to providing respectful, affirming care. As a locally owned Upper West Side practice, inclusivity is core to how we treat every person who walks through our doors.

Yes, Central Park West Dentistry is open both Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 6pm, on the Upper West Side of NYC. Our dentists and hygienists are available all weekend for cleanings, treatment, and dental emergencies!

Yes. Our formal name is Central Park West Dentistry but this often abbreviated to CPW Dentistry. It’s the same office!

✖️ We are NOT the same office as “Central Park West Dental” or “Central Park West Dental Studio.” ✖️

Central Park West Dentistry offers a thoughtfully modern dental experience that combines advanced tools with personalized care. Our selection of technology includes:

• Digital x-rays with low-radiation
• 3-D cone beam imaging (CBCT)
• Panoramic x-rays
• iTero® Element™ digital scanner
• Digital impressions (no goo)
• Intraoral cameras
• Microscopic root canal therapy
• Laser-assisted periodontal therapy (LANAP)
• Digital Invisalign treatment planning
• Implant planning with 3-D imaging
• Curodont® remineralization technology
• Modern sterilization systems
• Text/email communication systems & online scheduling

CPW Dentistry was founded by Dr. John Lhota in 1998 and has grown into a trusted neighborhood practice with a talented team of doctors and specialists. We remain locally owned and focused on delivering exceptional care with a personal touch.

You’ll find us at 1881 Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets, on the 4th floor. We’re just steps from Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, and multiple subway lines, making it easy to get here from anywhere in NYC.

A photo ID, a dental insurance card if you have one, and a form of payment.

Your first visit at Central Park West Dentistry is a 90-minute dental wellness appointment (or 60 minutes for emergencies) designed to get to know you and address your oral health goals without feeling rushed. After completing your forms online ahead of time, you’ll be welcomed into our Upper West Side office at 1881 Broadway with complimentary coffee, tea, Wi-Fi, and a Kind Bar while you wait.

A typical first wellness visit includes:

Digital, low-radiation X-rays
An oral cancer screening
A professional cleaning and polishing
A comprehensive exam with one of our dentists
A conversation about your oral health goals and any concerns

If treatment is recommended, your dentist will clearly explain next steps, and our financial coordinators will walk you through fees, insurance coverage, and flexible payment options including Sunbit and our Care+ Membership. Comfort extras like blankets, pillows, numbing gel, earplugs, and TVs are always available. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, and a form of payment.

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