Toothache is the worst pain that someone can bear. Also, your smile is the first thing that everyone notices. In the world of appearances, people like to maintain their looks. And what could be the better way to have a perfect smile? Many people go through general dentistry procedures to ease their discomfort. At the same time, cosmetic dentistry is used to enhance their looks.
However, the difference between the two is sometimes hard to understand. More often than not, the line between general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry gets blurred. So, if you are wondering which dentists you should visit regarding your orthodontic issue, then ahead is everything you need to know.
What Is General Dentistry?
The one and only job of a general dentist is to make sure that your teeth are doing fine and healthy. If you have any sort of problem, their focus is to solve it in the best way possible, which doesn’t cause much harm to your teeth. Sometimes, a general dentist might make decisions that might also compromise your appearance. Some of the techniques used by a general dentist are:
- Fillings And Extractions
- Root Canal Work
- Treatment For Periodontitis
- Treatment For Gingivitis
Even though general dentists do not specialise in smile designing, they can still perform the methods or procedures performed by a cosmetic dentist. If you want the most out of your procedure, you can consult a general dentist and ask him to go for a procedure that will not only cure your ailment but also improve the appearance of your teeth.
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
Cosmetics always have done something with your appearance. So, wherever it is included, know that it’s about enhancing your look. Cosmetic dentistry is a field where orthodontic methods are used to make your smile look more beautiful. Usually, teeth whitening and brightening procedures come under it. Some other techniques include:
- Dental Veneers
- Inlays And Onlays
- Composite Bonding
Many celebrities have personal cosmetic dentists who focus on maintaining their teeth and using cosmetic procedures to make them look bright and shiny. If you visit a cosmetic dentist, then he will provide you with solutions that are related to smile design. However, these methods are not alien to general dentists, they can also do the same, but their focus is to keep your teeth healthy.
Difference Between General Dentistry VS Cosmetic Dentistry
ADA Recognition
Here ADA stands for American Dental Association. If you go by their books, then you will find that they only recognise general dentistry as a speciality. This automatically means that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognised field by ADA. But this doesn’t imply that cosmetic dentists are the same as general dentists. They do their studies and go through extensive training. Most cosmetic dentists have done specialisation in smile design.
Your Teeth Condition
Some cosmetic dentists can treat the health issues of teeth, whereas some choose not to. So, if you are worried about your teeth’s health, you should go to a general dentist. Their main concern is to bring back the natural vitality of your teeth. As for the cosmetic dentist, they will suggest procedures that can design your smile in such a way that it looks attractive.
Specialisation
General dentistry is a recognised speciality, whereas cosmetic dentistry is not recognised. Also, it is a sub-speciality of smile design.
Issues That You Want To Resolve
If you are having discomfort, pain or any other ailment in your teeth, then you should go to the general dentist. Also, it is really a matter of weighing down the issues that you are facing. There is no doubt that for appearance, a cosmetic dentist is preferred.
However, if you have slight discomfort but you want to improve your smile, then you can go to the cosmetic dentist and tell them about your condition. They have also studied the same course, so they know the procedures and can recommend you the best solutions.
Focus
To put it simply, the focus of a cosmetic dentist is your smile, whereas the focus of a general dentist is on the health of your teeth. So, if you want to visit a dentist, keep these two simple things in mind. You can also have an appointment with a Cosmetic Dentist in Camberwell if you want to improve your smile.
General Dentistry And Cosmetic Dentistry Can Overlap Each Other
Since both fields are related to teeth, it’s hard to differentiate between the two. Most of the time, their techniques and procedure overlap. It is because, at the end of the day, the object of attention is the teeth.
For instance, dental veneers are used in both cosmetic as well as general dentistry. They are effective in masking stains but are also used in preventing further damage. Moreover, if the tooth loses its functionality, dentures are used. But they are also used to make your mouth more appealing if you have gaps in your teeth.
Conclusion
These are some of the things to know if you want to point out the difference between general and cosmetic dentistry. To keep it simple, just remember that cosmetic is for appearance purpose. Thus, cosmetic dentistry is used to improve your looks and smile. In contrast, general dentistry has more to do with oral care and oral issue.