Differences Between General Dentists and Cosmetic Dentists

Are you aware differences exist between a general dentist, orthodontist, prosthodontist, and cosmetic dentist? Dentists specialize in various fields. While some prefer practicing immediately after graduating from dental school, others spend additional time receiving training in different areas of dentistry.

Cosmetic dentists go through extensive training for performing various aesthetic procedures to improve the appearance of your teeth and your smile. Cosmetic dentists are not different from general dentists who provide preventive dental care and other services like fillings, root canals, treating gum disease, et cetera. On the other hand, cosmetic dentists learn how to resolve dental problems affecting the aesthetics of the smile.

Cosmetic dentists are also aware of all procedures managed by general dentists. However, their goals are different because they focus on aesthetics besides dental health. A practitioner in cosmetic dentistry can help to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile while at the same time ensuring your oral health remains in top shape. It helps if you understand both professionals are dentists but focus on different areas of dentistry. We must also confirm that general dentist also provide some cosmetic treatments if required by their patients. General dentists train themselves by attending seminars and other educational programs to acquire the knowledge to provide cosmetic dentistry services.

How Would You Know If You Need Cosmetic Dentistry?

Whether you need cosmetic dentistry services or not will depend on the appearance of your teeth and whether it is impacting your smile.

If you have a discolored tooth from infections or medications you had during childhood and consider hiding it, you can receive help from cosmetic and general dentists. However, you must understand general dentists perform fewer cosmetic procedures and will likely offer you a remedy like dental veneers to cover the tooth.

However, if you visit a cosmetic dentist, the professional has multiple options to hide the dental imperfection affecting you to improve the appearance of your smile. Cosmetic dentistry also has dental veneers, but the professional considers your tooth’s condition and any infections you may have before recommending treatment for the discoloration. In addition, instead of offering expensive dental veneers, cosmetic dentists have alternatives that serve the purpose at prices more affordable than the former.

If missing teeth affect your mouth’s functionality besides your appearance, cosmetic dentistry has a solution for you to replace your missing teeth with excellent options like dental implants. Of course, general dentists can also provide dental implants. However, if you visit a cosmetic dentistry facility, the professional will likely evaluate all aspects impacting your smile instead of concentrating on replacing your missing teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry professionals are experts in caring for your aesthetic appearance. They will ensure you receive missing teeth replacements with excellent restorative options and even provide you instant solutions for the teeth you lost. You will undoubtedly require multiple visits to the dental facility when receiving tooth replacement solutions. Still, you can rest assured the professional considers your oral and aesthetic needs simultaneously when creating a treatment plan explicitly for you.

Can Cosmetic Dentistry Help with a Crooked Smile?

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on your aesthetic appearance, and professionals can undoubtedly correct a crooked smile if you are affected by one for any reason. Unfortunately, many people think they have a crooked smile merely because their teeth are not positioned correctly. While cosmetic dentistry can treat orthodontic issues with your teeth with remedies like clear aligners, they also consider whether your crooked smile results from orthodontic matters or is related to other problems.

In some cases, you may need complete mouth reconstruction procedures because of trauma or accidents that may have caused the crooked smile you have. In such cases, even if you visit a general dentist, they are likely to give you a referral to a cosmetic dentistry facility looking at all aspects of your appearance, functionality of your mouth, and overall health.

When considering cosmetic issues with your appearance, you must not try taking shortcuts to cope with dental problems in the short term. Instead, you must prefer seeing a dental professional providing you with comprehensive oral healthcare as best possible.

If your concern is aesthetics, you benefit significantly by seeing a cosmetic dentistry professional with knowledge about improving your appearance without impacting your oral health. Furthermore, cosmetic dentistry professionals can help you maintain your mouth’s functionality while achieving the best aesthetic results for your smile.

Understanding the differences between general dentists and cosmetic dentistry helps you make an informed decision when selecting the best professional for your dental and aesthetic needs.