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Thomas Connelly

Bio

Practicing on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and with experience that spans more than 15 years and several Northeastern states, Dr. Thomas Connelly delivers world class dental aesthetics to patients from all walks of life. Counted among those who have had their smiles beautified by Dr. Connelly are runway models, executives, moms, celebrities, firefighters, police, sports stars, and people from every other conceivable profession. Indeed, he has built his reputation by inviting everyone into his practice - he's just as likely to work with a housewife or an up and coming junior executive as he is a movie or sports star (he is currently the team dentist for both the NY Islanders and the Boston Bruins of the NHL; and in fact has performed dental work on players from every NHL team, and the New York Knicks as well.)

Dr. Connelly's patients have graced the covers of more than 300 magazines internationally, including Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, and the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. He is responsible for many of the beautiful smiles that have appeared on Dancing with the Stars, The Apprentice, and the Victoria's Secret fashion show. Undoubtedly, you have seen his work. And if you think you may have seen Dr. Connelly himself somewhere, well you just may have - he is the spokesperson for luxury global retailer GoSmile, and can be seen on QVC weekly.

Accredited by the American Society of Dental Aesthetics - the most prestigious and selective credentialing organization in the world for Aesthetic Dentistry - Dr. Connelly is also a Fellow in the International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics; in fact, Dr. Connelly was nominated into this academy by the Father of Cosmetic Dentistry - Dr. Irwin Smigel himself.

Dr. Connelly received his dental training at the Mayo Clinic, the University of Detroit Mercy, and Louisiana State University, and has also served as a clinical professor in two Ivy League schools - (previously at Harvard University Dental School in Boston, and currently as an assistant professor at Columbia Dental School). He is also a weekly writer for the internationally renowned Huffington Post, a regular contributor for FOX National News, and featured in numerous print and television segments on Cosmetic Dentistry and oral health.



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Activity

  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly has posted a blog entry: Why is the dentist so darn expensive?

    Ok, let’s be frank – the economy just isn’t what it used to be, is it? The mid 80’s and late 90’s booms are in the distant past, and today, more often than not, people are struggling to make ends meet.

    As a NYC Cosmetic Dentist, I see this type of thing a lot. I see people who have little money to

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly has posted a blog entry: Can sinuses affect your teeth?

    It was somewhat of a mystery at first.

    I once had this patient who had chronic / repeated pain in his upper teeth (basically the premolars and molars on his upper right side.) He had been to two different dentists, who did an exam, took x-rays, but really couldn’t find anything wrong with the teeth.

    ...Full Post
  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly has posted a blog entry: Can sinuses affect your teeth?

    It was somewhat of a mystery at first.

    I once had this patient who had chronic / repeated pain in his upper teeth (basically the premolars and molars on his upper right side.) He had been to two different dentists, who did an exam, took x-rays, but really couldn’t find anything wrong with the teeth.

    ...Full Post
  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    Does insurance cover composite dental veneers?

    Sadly, no, in most cases, it will not. Dental insurance almost never covers cosmetic procedures, and unfortunately, veneers (of any kind) almost always fall under "cosmetic". But even if the veneers are necessary, most dental insurance has strict limits on major work (like veneers), and may only

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    Does insurance cover porcelain dental veneers?

    Sadly, in most cases, no. Veneers (either porcelain or composite) are almost always a cosmetic procedure, and most dental plans do not go this far. And even if the veneer is somehow medically necessary, most dental insurance draws the line at major work, only covering a portion of the job.

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    What are the benefits of ceramic veneers?

    A beautiful smile. That's the main benefit of ceramic veneers (aka porcelain veneers), and it's the main reason people get them.

    Veneers will brighten your smile, are strong and long lasting, and also help bring uniformity to your smile. People get them to cover misshapen, stained teeth, and I have

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    What costs more, veneers or crowns?
    They are actually fairly similar in time spent, so the price is going to be pretty close. I will say that Veneers are usually more cosmetic in nature, so there might be a little more attention paid to the actual look of the smile, especially on front teeth. This isn't to say crowns don't get that...  Full Post
  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    How long do composite dental veneers last?

    It's hard to say, because everyone is different, and if you insist on biting jawbreakers every day, my answer will be very different than for someone who won't do that. But generally speaking, you could expect them to last a decade or so. This is not as long as porcelain veneers, but that's to be

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    Are there alternatives to flossing?

    Yes, there are several alternatives to flossing.

    For me, the best alternative is irrigators (water jets, etc.). These get in-between your teeth and under the gumline, and do a nice job at keeping things clean.

    Other "decent" alternatives include old-fashioned toothpicks (not the greatest substitute,

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    What are composite dental veneers?

    Composite dental veneers are thin slices of composite resin that go over the front of your teeth. They are similar to porcelain veneers, the biggest difference being they are made of a different substance. Like their porcelain cousins, composite veneers are used to correct imperfections in one's

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    What are porcelain dental veneers?

    Porcelain veneers (sometimes simply referred to as "veneers") are thin slices of porcelain that are put over the fronts of your teeth. The reasons for veneers are usually cosmetic, as they can markedly improve one's smile. Think about it - stains, chips, imperfections, gaps... these can all be improved

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    Can composite dental veneers be performed on children?

    The official answer is "yes" - as long as the child has all of their adult teeth in, veneers can be an option. But this is definitely something for parents to talk to their dentist about - since we have to take off some enamel, Veneers are a lifetime commitment - they do not last forever, so as an

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    Will getting composite dental veneers hurt?

    Typically, no. We do have to buff your teeth a bit to make room for them, but that is fairly minor. A cavity will hurt more. There could be some sensitivity afterwards for some folks, but that's easily remedied by aspirin or similar.

    Truthfully, for most people, the biggest source of pain is simply

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    How does stomach acid erode tooth enamel?

    Gastric acid is powerful stuff. It can affect your teeth two ways: either by throwing up excessively (bulimia and the like), or by acid reflux disease.

    Like any other acid, gastric acid is corrosive to many materials (but not your stomach lining!) But your tooth enamel doesn't like it. So let's keep

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  • Thomas Connelly
    Thomas Connelly answered:
    How can I teach my child to brush his teeth?

    To start, you can brush their teeth for them as soon as they erupt (use water at first, then as they get older, a teeny amount of toothpaste). Make it a habit that they just grow into.

    Kids seem to want to emulate adults as much as they can, so get them into the habit of watching you, and brushing

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