Accepting new patients in Shadyside
Four Pittsburgh dentists, 3D imaging and same-day emergency slots, with costs explained before any treatment starts.
4.9 from 1,186 reviews
From a child's first cleaning to a guided implant, every doctor sees the same records, so nothing gets repeated or lost.
Every image we take appears on a screen you can see, so the plan makes sense before you agree to it.
A 15-second cone beam scan gives your dentist a 3D view before implants, complex root canals or wisdom tooth planning.
A handheld wand captures a precise 3D model of your teeth in about five minutes, which we use for crowns, aligners and night guards.
For many teeth, we design the crown on screen and mill it from a ceramic block in our office, so you leave with a finished tooth.
Digital sensors show decay between teeth and bone levels instantly, on a chairside screen we turn toward you.
We hold two emergency slots on every weekday schedule, and new patients are welcome in them.
2
same-day slots held every weekday
30min
after-hours call-back for patients
Three parts work together to replace a missing tooth. Select a part to see what it does and when it is placed.
Dental implantsA custom zirconia or porcelain tooth, shade matched to your neighbors and shaped to fit your bite. It is the only part anyone ever notices.
A small post that screws into the implant and passes through the gum. It holds the crown firmly and lets us replace the crown later without new surgery.
A threaded titanium post placed in the jawbone with a 3D-printed guide. Over a few months, bone grows tightly around it, which is called osseointegration.
Tip: use the arrow keys to move between parts.
CBCT imaging measures bone and nerve position. You leave with a written plan and estimate.
The post is placed through a printed guide under local anesthetic. Sedation is available.
Bone bonds to the implant. A temporary tooth or flipper keeps your smile complete.
We attach the abutment and take a quick digital scan. No impression trays.
Your crown is fitted, bite checked and polished. Then it is regular checkups.
Sample timeline. Bone grafting or extractions can add 2 to 4 months. Individual results vary.
A multi-doctor practice
Each dentist leads an area of care, and complex cases are reviewed together at our Wednesday planning meeting.
"I want patients to see what I see on the scan, so the plan makes sense before we start."
"A root canal done well should feel like a long filling. That is the standard I hold myself to."
"A good smile looks like it always belonged to you. I design for faces, not for teeth alone."
"If a child leaves asking when they can come back, the visit went right."
Founded Northstar in 2004 and leads our implant program with 3D-guided surgery.
Handles most root canals and same-day crowns, with a calm, steady chairside manner.
Designs veneer and aligner cases digitally, with trial smiles before anything is permanent.
Sees most of our younger patients and makes first visits feel easy for kids and parents.
Scanned, designed, milled and bonded in one appointment, for most back teeth and many front teeth.
Crowns and root canalsA handheld camera records a 3D model of the prepared tooth and your bite. No gooey impression trays.
Your dentist shapes the crown on screen, matching the contours and contacts of your neighboring teeth.
Our in-office mill carves the crown from a solid ceramic block while you relax with a show or a podcast.
We glaze, shade and fire the crown, then bond it in place, check your bite and polish.
1
appointmentfrom worn tooth to finished crown
| Detail | Same-day | Traditional |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | 1 visit | 2 visits |
| Time to final tooth | About 2 hours | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Temporary crown | Not needed | Worn in between |
| Numbing | Once | Twice |
Some teeth, such as those needing a gold crown or a long bridge, are still made by a lab. Your dentist will tell you at the exam.
We verify your benefits before your first visit. No insurance? The membership covers prevention for a flat yearly fee.
Insurance and financing details| Feature | PPO insuranceIn network with 7 major plansYour plan premium | Best without insuranceNorthstar membershipFor patients without insurance$349 a year (sample) | 0% financingFor larger treatment plansFrom $85 a month (sample) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two exams and cleanings | Usually 100% covered | Included | Not applicable |
| Routine x-rays | Usually 100% covered | Included | Not applicable |
| Fillings and root canals | Often 50 to 80% covered | 15% off fees | Spread over 6 to 18 months |
| Crowns and implants | Often 50% up to yearly max | 15% off fees | Spread over 12 to 18 months |
| Whitening and veneers | Not covered | 10% off fees | Available |
| Deductible or waiting period | Plan dependent | None | Credit approval |
| Annual maximum | $1,000 to $2,000 typical | No maximum | Approved amount |
In network with 7 major plans
Your plan premium
For patients without insurance
$349 a year (sample)
For larger treatment plans
From $85 a month (sample)
Swipe to compare options. Figures are samples for illustration.
In network with
Drag the handle to compare. Every cosmetic case starts with a digital design and a trial smile you wear before approving.
Sample images for demonstration. Individual results vary.
View the smile galleryVerified reviews from Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and beyond. We reply to every one.
Read all reviews4.9/5
From 1,186 verified reviews on Google, Healthgrades and Zocdoc (sample data)
Cracked a molar on a Tuesday morning and was in the chair by 1 pm. Dr. Whitfield explained every option and had me out of pain the same afternoon.
Dr. Kowalczyk showed me the 3D scan and exactly where the implant would go. Surgery was quicker than a haircut and the crown looks like my own tooth.
My four-year-old asked when she can go back. Dr. Duarte let her hold the mirror and count her own teeth. That is a win.
We verify insurance before you arrive, send forms by text, and keep first visits to about 90 minutes.
Parents and kids are seen in the same block, often after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7 pm.
A written sterilization protocol, followed for every instrument and every patient, and checked by people outside our office.
52
spore tests a yearper autoclave, run by an outside lab (sample)
Used instruments go straight to a closed ultrasonic cleaner in our separate sterilization room, never rinsed at the chair.
Each set is sealed in a pouch with a chemical indicator strip and labeled with the date, cycle and room.
A steam autoclave runs every load at 273°F under pressure, and a printout of each cycle is logged.
Indicator strips are checked on every pack, and an independent lab runs a spore test on each autoclave weekly.
Sealed pouches are opened at your chair while you watch. Needles, bibs and suction tips are single use.
Protocol follows CDC infection control guidance for dental settings. Figures are samples for this demo.
Eight private treatment rooms, a 3D imaging suite and an in-house milling lab, all on one floor with elevator access.
Sample offers
Mention the code when you book. One offer per patient, not combinable with insurance benefits.
All offers and terms$99
Usually $265
For uninsured adults. Includes comprehensive exam, full digital x-rays, cleaning and oral cancer screening.
$150 off
Custom trays and gel
Add custom whitening trays when you book a hygiene visit. Includes two gel syringes and a shade check.
$500 off
Plus free retainers
Applies to comprehensive aligner plans started this season. Complimentary 3D scan and simulation consult.
Most patients reach us in under 15 minutes. Implant and veneer patients drive in from the South Hills too.
Still unsure? Our front desk answers the phone from 7:30 am.
Call (412) 555-0133All FAQsYes. All four doctors are accepting new patients, and most first visits can be scheduled within 7 to 10 days. Emergencies are usually seen the same day.
We are in network with Delta Dental PPO, UPMC Dental Advantage, Cigna DPPO, MetLife PDP, Aetna PPO, Guardian and United Concordia, and we file claims for most other PPO plans as out of network.
The Northstar membership covers two exams, two cleanings, x-rays and 15% off most treatment for a flat yearly fee. We also offer 0% financing on approved credit.
Yes. Nitrous oxide is available for most procedures, and oral conscious sedation is available for longer visits after a medical review.
Yes, during office hours. We hold same-day slots every weekday.
Tell us what you need and when you are free. Our front desk confirms within one business day.
4.9 from 1,186 patient reviews
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