Dentist Versus Cosmetic Dentist: What’s the Difference? | Let’s imagine that you’re walking to work one day and trip over a stick, landing hard on your face. The next time you look in the mirror, you notice a tiny chip missing from your front tooth. You want to head to the dentist to get it fixed, but there’s a problem: do you go to a general dentist or a cosmetic dentist?
Well, we’re here to solve that problem for you. It’s time to take a look at our guide for the differences between general and cosmetic dentists!
But enough talk, right? Grab your drills, and let’s dive on in!
What Is a General Dentist?
A general dentist is a dentist you’ll go to see when there is a significant medical problem with your teeth. This tends to include issues like cavities, gum disease, and root canals. They also look to prevent further tooth issues through regular checkups and screenings for diseases like oral cancer.
When deciding which dentist to visit, it’s important to keep in mind that a general dentist will prioritize your oral health over the appearance of your smile. This means their procedures aren’t always designed to leave your smile perfectly intact. Any big-tier dental procedures (like skin grafts for your gums) could go to an oral surgeon instead.
What Is a Cosmetic Dentist?
On the flip side, a cosmetic dentist focuses on procedures that improve the look of your teeth. While they’re trained to handle basic dental procedures (cleanings, x-rays, etc.), they specialize in procedures like implanting dentures or tooth veneers. As a result, however, they tend not to perform heavy-duty tasks like tooth extractions.
Of course, that’s not to say the two fields don’t bleed together sometimes. Removing chunks of a rotten tooth goes side-by-side with installing veneers to hide the damage, for example.
You should also keep in mind that both dentist types have to get the same level of training. This means cosmetic dentists don’t lack the knowledge their conventional brethren have.
Want to see a more definitive list of the different ways cosmetic dentistry can give your smile an upgrade? In that case, click here to learn more.
Bonus Differences
Another key difference between the two “fields” of dentistry is that cosmetic dentistry appointments tend to cost more than their counterparts. This is because most medical insurance companies don’t see cosmetic work as necessary for your health, meaning they won’t cover the cost of the procedure. In some cases, however, you can get cosmetic procedures funded if they fall under a certain umbrella.
The cost also goes up due to the higher-grade materials used by the cosmetic dentist for things like fillings.
Keep Your Smile Shiny
And there you have it! Now that you know all about the differences between a general dentist and a cosmetic dentist, you’re ready to head in and get your smile looking shiny again! And if you’re looking for more information on all things medical, make sure to drop by our website again to check out some of our other articles!
