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Oral health is a reflection of your overall well-being. More than just giving you more self-confidence, a radiant smile improves your general physical well-being, and to help you achieve that, both cosmetic and general dentistry treatments are available.
Depending on your desires, your mouth’s state, and your dentist's indications, you may need to undergo cosmetic or general dental treatments. This article helps you understand what these entail and where they overlap.
Cometic, General, and Restorative Dentistry—What's the Difference?
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
The main goal of cosmetic dentistry is to enhance the look and functionality of teeth. There are numerous reasons why people might decide to have cosmetic dentistry procedures done, such as improving their mouth’s appearance, boosting their self-esteem, or hiding small imperfections.
Cosmetic dentistry procedures aren’t medically necessary—they’re strictly aesthetic-wise. However, revitalizing your smile and improving your self-confidence can do wonders for your mental health and, in turn, elevate your overall oral health.
Some common cosmetic procedures are:
- Veneers
- Inlays and onlays
What Is General Dentistry?
Unlike cosmetic dentistry, general dentists emphasize health and functionality more than appearance. Their main goal is to help patients maintain their oral health by preventing dental problems like cavities and gum disease. Because of that, general dental check-ups are medically essential.
By seeing your general dentist on a regular basis, you can prevent minor problems from snowballing into more serious and harder-to-treat issues.
Some common general dentistry procedures include:
- Regular check-ups
- Fillings
- Teeth extractions
Other Types of Dentistry
In addition to the two types of dentistry we mentioned, restorative dentistry focuses on repairing or replacing damaged or missing teeth. These procedures help improve oral health and function after damage, be it from tooth decay, accidents, or missing teeth.
Restorative dentistry aims to restore your smile to full function after unrepairable damage, focusing on ensuring you long-lasting oral health. By restoring the functionality of your smile, your ability to eat, speak, and chew also improves.
Examples of restorative dental procedures include:
- Dental bridges
- Dental implants
- Dentures
Where All Types of Dentistry Collide
Although cosmetic and general dentistry are two different branches, each with its own set of objectives, practices, and qualified professionals, the truth is none of them operate individually.
No cosmetic dentist will conduct a visually pleasing treatment if it negatively affects your oral health. On the other hand, nowadays, general dentistry experts also focus on ensuring your teeth look natural and match the overall appearance of your mouth, as the benefits of liking your smile are well-known.
In addition, the distinction between general and cosmetic dentistry is hazy in several areas. For instance, although tooth bonding is regarded as a cosmetic procedure, a decaying tooth can be repaired by applying resin to a cavity.
Find Qualified Cosmetic and General Dentistry Experts
As you can see, both cosmetic and general dentistry play a big role in your smile’s health. Our biggest advice is to search for a dental office that has both general and cosmetic professionals on its team.
For example, at Montgomery Smiles, our professionals work together to ensure you get the smile of your dreams—without hampering your health. If you’re interested in learning more about our staff, reach out!