General Vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What's the Difference?
General vs. Cosmetic Dentistry is a debate that has gained momentum in recent years when cosmetic dentistry has advanced rapidly and made its mark in the dental industry. So what is the great difference between the two?
The goal of cosmetic dentistry Frisco is always to improve a patient's physical appearance, whereas the goal of general dentistry will be to treat and prevent oral diseases. Nevertheless, certain aesthetic operations could be advantageous for your dental health; you might discover that a general dentist performs a variety of aesthetic dentistry. This may have caused confusion rather than clearing the ambiguity; this happens because both fields are quite distinct yet overlap in many areas, so there is no black and white in general vs. cosmetic dentistry. Read on to find out more about the differences between the two fields.
General Dentistry: All You Need To know
General dentists Little Elm are responsible for treating any dental issue that causes severe discomfort to the patient. Now how they treat the patient can overlap with cosmetic dentistry. The repairs these dentists perform include:
1.Fillings
2.Tooth Extraction
There are some other dental works that these specialists offer too, but they are rare such as treatment for periodontitis or gingivitis, which are issues related to gums. Other issues that general dentists address include:
1.Preventative care, such as routine checkups
2.Scaling or cleaning
3.Checking for any cancer
4.Flouride treatments
5.Giving a mouthguard or sealant
6.Teeth Whitening (this isn't a common practice among general dentists as it is considered to be a cosmetic procedure)
Cosmetic Dentistry: All You Need To Know
Cosmetic dentists focus on how to enhance the aesthetics of a smile for their patients. They offer a wide range of procedures that include:
1.Teeth Whitening
2.Onlays and Inlays
3.Composite bonding
4.Dental veneers
Now, why do people say that cosmetic and general dentistry procedures overlap? Well, let's take an example of dental veneers. These are used to hide the stained tooth or cracked ones which makes them a cosmetic fix, but in hindsight, it is also working to protect the tooth hidden behind it, so it is also a restorative fix; hence can be called a general dentistry procedure.
Similarly, the resin used to repair a cavity and the resin in the tooth bonding are the same, so even though these are different procedures, the material used in them is the same. Another case appears with the dentures as they not only help with speech and biting difficulties that come under general dentistry but also fill the gaps in a patient's mouth, which means it is a cosmetic procedure.
Conclusion
The main difference between General and Cosmetic dentistry is that one works to prevent and restore any dental issues, while the latter field is associated with the aesthetics of the smile. If you are interested in any of the procedures, call a consultant at Waterfront Dental!
