General dentistry focuses on preventing and treating dental problems and diseases.
You go to a general dentist for the following services:
– Dental prophylaxis or cleaning
– Treatment of dental caries
– Root canals
– Dental fillings
– Other preventive or rehabilitative treatments intended to relieve pain caused by problems in your teeth
Cosmetic dentistry falls under the category of specialty dentistry. A cosmetic dentist is a general dentist who obtained further training to acquire the knowledge, and develop the skills needed to perform dental procedures and treatments related to improving the appearance of teeth, or what is referred to as a patient’s smile.
You go to a cosmetic dentist if you want to address problems like discolored or stained teeth or cracked, chipped, crooked or missing teeth.
The treatments that you get from a cosmetic dentist are not really critical to how your teeth function. Even without undergoing these treatments, you can still chew and eat efficiently.
The services that a cosmetic dentist offers have to do with improving your smile. They seek to improve your looks, your self-image and self-confidence, by making your teeth look better. The treatments promote better-looking teeth, a brighter smile, and a more pleasant appearance.
A general dentist focuses on treatments that restore your teeth, so that they function well. A cosmetic dentist, on the other hand, offers dental services that intend to improve the esthetics of your smile.
Many individuals report a dramatic improvement in their self-esteem and confidence when they go to a cosmetic dentist to have their crooked or broken teeth repaired. They see the expense as an essential investment for better career and social opportunities, not to mention a healthy self-image.
You go to a cosmetic dentist for the following services:
1. Replacement of missing teeth
A cosmetic dentist addresses unattractive gaps or missing teeth and restores your smile by doing dentures, dental crowns, dental implants and bridgework that look and feel like natural teeth.
2. Professional teeth whitening
This is one of the most popular dental services performed by a cosmetic dentist. It is a safe and effective method to have a brighter smile that is free from unsightly teeth discoloration and stains.
3. Teeth reshaping
Do you feel that your teeth are misshapen, worn down, crooked, or too pointy? A cosmetic dentist may reshape your teeth to make them look more attractive. Porcelain veneers are popular with many dental patients.
4. Restoration of damaged teeth
You may have discolored teeth or cracked and chipped teeth, a sign of the wear and tear that your teeth go through in the course of many years. A cosmetic dentist can restore damaged teeth by using procedures like porcelain veneers or bonding to hide the damage, and restore the appearance of healthy teeth. If the damage is more severe, your cosmetic dentist may recommend a dental crown to improve structure and support and enhance appearance.
5. Straightening misaligned or crooked teeth
A cosmetic dentist may recommend braces or porcelain veneers to straighten your teeth, and make them look more beautiful.