Dental Problems? Cosmetic Dentistry vs Restorative Dentistry

When it comes to dentistry, most patients may assume that there's only one kind out there. However, it's important to learn about the many different options before you make any final appointments with a dentist. One path of dentistry may be wiser to have than the other, so gather insight from your dental professional and learn which direction you should look into.

Two that are typically confused with one another are cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry. Although most people think that restorative dentistry is often a better option than cosmetic dentistry and vice versa, it can still depend on the gravity and nature of the problem.

Continue reading to dive into the differences between the two.

Definition

Cosmetic dentistry is used to help out the appearance of one's teeth. Its focus is on the improvement of the formation of the teeth. Its goal is to beautify the smile and make it more attractive, which is why it focuses more on visibility than anything else.

While they may sound identical to restorative dentistry, they are actually quite different. Restorative dentistry is the path of dentistry that works to fix the teeth that have been damaged or currently have issues. Most dentists will use this as the basis of treatment.

Process

With cosmetic dentistry, the process begins with the dentist doing a full examination of the patient's mouth. The dentist will take x-rays of the patient's teeth and gums in order to look for any visible imperfections that may need to be addressed.

For restorative dentistry, the dentist will be taking a deeper look for any more complex and hidden problems. Based on the x-rays and the patient's description of any problems that they may be having, the dentist will determine and conclude the best course of action.

Examples

Cosmetic dentistry won't fix a tooth that has been damaged due to decay or another issue. However, several processes such as teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental restoration, and more have quite a positive effect on the appearance of a patient's teeth.

Meanwhile, restorative dentistry is much more corrective, which is perfect if you have missing teeth, tooth decay, gum problems, and more. Some examples of these would be dental implants, dental crowns, tooth extractions, and more.

Results

Both cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry start with making sure that the patient's teeth are healthy and strong. For cosmetic dentistry, this is because the appearance of the teeth can be changed depending on how healthy they are. A beautiful smile with healthy teeth will always look better than an unattractive smile with tooth decay.

With restorative dentistry, this is because they want to be sure that the teeth are in the best shape possible before starting treatment. The treatment will only be as good as the teeth that are going to be treated.

But essentially, both cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry have the same goal in the end result. The patient should walk away from the dentist's office with a great smile and no problems with their teeth.

Conclusion

Cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry are two different paths that dentists can take. The issues you're having with your teeth will determine whether you should go with cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry.

Looking for Waterford dental care? Dental House MI is a dental practice that offers both cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry, along with preventive dentistry, oral surgery and more in the USA.