A Dentist's Education

In 1982, Dr. Bertrand Bonnick graduated from SUNY-Albany cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a combined minor in mathematics and physics. From there, he attended the University of Maryland Dental School (the world's first dental college), graduating in 1986, and was selected as a Who's Who Scholar for academic achievement and student government leadership.

Knowing that school for dentists could provide only limited experiences, Dr. Bonnick competed for and earned a position in advanced training at Long Island Jewish Hospital Medical Center-QHC. During the first year of the program he spent one month in the Department of Anesthesiology where he provided the sedation for 6-10 patients per day. Approximately 20% of dentists complete a hospital based general practice residency.

After completing his residency program, the director asked Dr. Bonnick if he would like to stay for a second year as chief resident. The director said "Only 2% of all general dentists complete two years of post-graduate training, it will help you treat more difficult patients. You would help to train all the new residents, you will handle more complex cases, and learn a lot more from our specialists. You will help to train the new residents on operating room protocols and do more operating room cases. Furthermore, I need someone who will not compromise his moral and ethical standards."

 From Chief Residency to Part-Time Dentistry Instructor

Dr. Bonnick chose to accept the chief residency, and after he completed that challenging year he was offered a part-time job as an instructor in the program. He remained an instructor for 10 years, and was voted ‘Instructor of the Year’ in 1991 by the dentists he taught in the post-graduate dental program. Dr. Bonnick considers this one of his highest achievements ever because most of the other instructors nominated for the award were instructors who also taught him in 1986-1988. 

 Beginning the Dental Practice in the Greensboro, High Point Winston-Salem area of North Carolina 

In 2000 after honeymooning with his wife in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina they decided to relocate in North Carolina. After several trips to North Carolina "The Triad" was chosen as the ideal location for raising a family. After 18 years of practicing in New York, Dr. Bonnick bought the practice of Dr. Robert Kriegsman (established in Greensboro since 1962) and started a family general dentistry practice in Greensboro in March of 2004.

In November of 2004 Dr. Bonnick completed the Medical College of Georgia's one year Maxicourse program on dental implantology, and became the first dentist in Guilford County to own the Simplant software for doing virtual implant surgery. Virtual surgery allows the patient and doctor to use a CT scan on computer to simulate the actual surgery to determine whether the patient is a good candidate for implant surgery or if additional grafting of bone would be needed to place implants. 

 A Dentist's Lifelong Commitment to Learning

Dr. Bonnick understands that the key to giving you the best dentistry possible is a lifelong commitment to learning and continuing education. By 1992, he had completed over 500 credits of continuing education as well as passing an extensive written examination on all areas of dentistry and was recognized with the Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry (F.A.G.D.).

 North Carolina requires 15 hours of continuing education credits per year in order for a dentist to retain his or her license, at that rate it would take a dentist 30 years to complete 450 credit hours and 60 years to complete 900 credit hours. Dr. Bonnick and staff spend 30-300 hours per year in continuing education and training to continually incorporate new knowledge into the practice and improve the quality of care and service to our patients. The dentists always want to know about your concerns and will strive to address them without violating legal or ethical principles of the standard of care in dentistry.

On June 16-17, 2006 Dr. Bonnick and staff attended the course given by Nobel Biocare in Fort Washington Pennsylvania along with two other doctors from Greensboro in order to be able to provide "Teeth in an Hour", or "Teeth in a Day" using their software. Dr. Bonnick already had several years experience with virtual surgery using the Simplant software being the first in Guilford County to purchase and use it. This experience enhanced his selective cases with immediate loading of implants.

 Dentistry Honors and Awards

Dr. Bonnick was awarded the AGD's highest award August 5, 2006 in Denver Colorado , Master in the Academy of General Dentistry  M.A.G.D.(over 1100 hours of continuing education with at least 400 hour hands on). In this pursuit, he has taken and taught courses in sixteen major subject areas in dentistry. Go to www.agd.org to find out more on credentialing by the Academy of General Dentistry. He was also recognized by The Consumer Research Council of America as one of America's Top Dentist for 2006. 

 The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the Admission and Credentials Board and the results of extensive written and oral examinations has elected Dr. Bonnick as an Associate Fellow in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry A.F.A.A.I.D. He was accepted as a credentialed member at their annual meeting in Chicago Illinois on October 28, 2006. Go to www.aaid-implant.org for more information on credentialing by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. 

As one of the few general dentists licensed to provide IV conscious sedation in North Carolina he continues to update his knowledge of medicine, pharmacology, and managing medical emergencies on an annual basis. Dr. Bonnick is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). 

Dr. Bonnick develops new dental practice in "The Heart of the Triad"  High Point

In October 2006 Dr. Bonnick built a brand new modern office specially catering to the fearful patient complete with an operating room for Oral and IV Sedation. The office borrowed a lot from former NASA designers through Design Ergonomics and removed most of the clutter commonly found in a typical dental office. The design was meant to make the environment less threatening down to the detail of flat screen monitors mounted on the ceiling for the patients to view their X-rays or watch cable TV.

In April of 2007 Dr. Bonnick was appointed to the medical staff of High Point Regional Hospital. As one of the dentists who rotate call as assigned on a rotating basis he also has the ability to treat patients that need general dentistry in an ambulatory surgery setting in the hospital.

On April 17, 2008 at their conference in Washington D.C. Dr. Bonnick was awarded the Fellowship in the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation F.D.O.C.S.  This award was for contributing articles as well as documenting 50 cases, and completing continuing education credits in sedation dentistry.

 "The ability to provide a wide range of general dentistry including surgical and prosthetic implantology, cosmetic oral rehabilitation, and IV conscious sedation under one roof makes us a unique dental practice that can serve a wide range of patients and their dental needs.Technology and credentials however can go but so far when it comes to treating patients, caring for the patient in an ethical way is our primary concern. The doctor-patient relationship is enhanced when the patient has trust and confidence in their doctor, gives the doctor accurate information and cooperates with treatment recommendations including referral to specialists when it is necessary. It is hard to get exceptional results when patient and doctor are not working together for the best possible outcome. We also recognize the human factor, some personalities just don't fit together well. Give us a try and see if we can be a fit for you."

Dr. Bonnick is grateful for the opportunities he has received in life, and is passionate about giving to the profession and the community through his family general dentistry practice. He has volunteered for missionary dentistry in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, serving as group leader. In this service, he wrote the constitution for the Organization for International Development. In 2004 he served on the Guilford County Citizens Advisory Committee and as an Instructor at the Guilford Technical Community College. He is also currently the Historian for the Kappa Lambda graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. a national organization that conducts social programs for the upliftment of mankind. 

 Dr. Bonnick's Dentistry Organizations

He is a member of the North Carolina Dental Society (ADA), Dental Implant Associates of North Carolina, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, Guilford County Dental Society, High Point Dental Society (President-elect), and Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation. Dr. Bonnick is one of only 2 dentists in North Carolina who is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry and is credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

 His family consists of himself, his wife, Kaye, and three wonderful children: Ernest (13), Benjamin (5 ) and Brandon (1).