Our Care Methodology
The Centre Method™
Not all dentistry is equal. The Centre Method is twenty years of considered practice — distilled into a framework that treats the whole mouth, plans with judgment, builds with precision, executes every plan with AI-powered accuracy, and speaks your language.
Five Principles
Considered care, in five moves.
Map the whole mouth, not the symptom
iTero 3D scan, cavity detection, smile analysis, periodontal mapping, and bite analysis. We see early signs of cavities, enamel wear and cracks, gum recession — sleep airway encroachment, hidden inflammation, foundational bone loss.
Plan with twenty years' clinical experience
Dr. Shi's conservative approach, AI-powered equipment, and years of gentle care experience allow him to formulate the optimal treatment plans, customized to your unique individual needs. Our doctors listen to your stories and consider your health and financial conditions.
Build with precision tooling
3D-guided implant placement using a custom surgical guide, every implant placed by an experienced clinician. CEREC same-day crowns. 3D-printed surgical guides. Solea CO2 laser (most soft- and hard-tissue procedures without anesthesia).
Communicate in your language
Bilingual English / 中文 / 廣東話 throughout — phone, chat, in-chair, treatment plans, follow-up. The Centre Method is care without translation friction.
Precise plan execution
Using AI-powered digital technology, every treatment plan is executed with exceptional accuracy and precision. Our approach is guided by a gentle, conservative, and minimally invasive philosophy, ensuring care that supports long-term comfort, function, and lasting results.
Why this framework
Not process for process' sake.
We have watched too many patients leave a dental visit more confused than when they arrived. The Centre Method exists so you walk out clearer about your mouth — what's happening, what to do about it in the next three years, and why — than when you walked in.
Defensible
Every step is sourced.
We cite peer-reviewed medical literature and authoritative clinical guidance. Our claims are traceable.
Learn more: Dr. John Shi · dental innovations
- AAOMS — American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons evidence-based guidance
- Guided implant surgery — CBCT-based 3D planning with a custom surgical guide
- CEREC by Dentsply Sirona — same-day digital restoration system
Common Questions
About The Centre Method
What is The Centre Method?
The Centre Method™ is the diagnostic and treatment framework Dr. John Shi has refined over twenty years at Centre Dental in Lower Manhattan. It works in five steps: map the whole mouth with 3D CBCT imaging rather than treating a single symptom, plan with the judgment of extensive full-arch implant experience, build with precision tooling like guided implant surgery, execute every plan with AI-powered digital precision, and communicate in your language — English, Mandarin, or Cantonese.
How is The Centre Method different from a standard dental exam?
A standard fifteen-minute exam often misses sleep-airway encroachment, hidden inflammation, and foundational bone loss. The Centre Method begins with a 3D CBCT scan, airway screening, periodontal mapping, and bite analysis — assessing the whole oral system, then giving you a written plan that states what is necessary now, what can wait, and what we would never recommend.
Does The Centre Method cost extra?
No — The Centre Method is simply how we treat every patient, not an add-on package. The 90-minute first visit includes a 3D CBCT scan, airway screening, bite analysis, and a clear treatment plan. For specific fees, contact the front desk; they confirm your insurance benefits first and then walk you through the details.
Begin with a complete oral assessment.
90-minute first visit: 3D CBCT scan, airway screening, bite analysis, clear treatment plan. No pressure.