When it comes to overall oral health, your resident is your usual go-to person. After all, they’re trained in general dentistry, which pretty much covers preventative care, professional cleaning, and minor surgeries. But in the past few years, we’ve seen the rise of cosmetic dentists in pretty much every city. Who are they, and what do they do? In today’s article, we’ll discuss the difference between a dentist and a cosmetic dentist. So the next time you’re suffering from a certain issue, you’ll know which dentist you should consult with to better address your concern.

What is general dentistry? Understanding its basics and beyond.

As mentioned above, general dentistry covers the prevalent oral services. In layman’s terms, general dentists are like the doctors for your mouth. Whenever you’re suffering from a toothache, have swollen gums, or are even dealing with crooked teeth, the dentist is your go-to professional. As for their coverage, they’re more in tune with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral problems and conditions. They make sure that your teeth, gums, and supporting oral structures are healthy and well-maintained, allowing you to speak, chew, swallow, and perform your bodily functions seamlessly.

Dentists undergo comprehensive training, which helps them develop a keen eye for detail. These two factors go hand-in-hand when they’re assessing and addressing your oral condition. For locals like us, we may not feel an ounce of pain or anything at all, but once put under the scrutinizing eyes of a dentist, they can spot the most minute details that are early indicators of possible problems.

They also undergo extensive training to perform a wide range of other services like general cleaning, fillings, and even minor surgeries. All of these require a specific set of skills to handle special equipment.

General dentists are also the ones who educate patients on how they can maximize their oral hygiene practices to prevent potential problems. At Adawn Dental Studio, they make sure to answer every patient’s questions while also explaining in detail procedures so the patients have a better understanding of how the treatment will help their oral health. This is especially helpful for individuals who suffer from dental anxiety, given how some people opt to forego their biannual dental checkups for fear of the dentist.

Aesthetically speaking, general dentists can also perform select cosmetic dental procedures. For one, there’s teeth whitening, which is one of the most common and in-demand cosmetic procedures. What they do is put a bleaching agent, usually in gel form, on the surface of your teeth. These whitening agents are usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which have lightening properties that are activated and show effects faster once they’re exposed to LED light. Some people opt to do this by themselves with at-home whitening kits, but the disadvantage of this is that whitening effects may take a while. On top of that, there’s a higher chance of developing tooth sensitivity and gum irritation without the professional hands of a dentist.

Besides teeth whitening, general dentists can also offer restorative treatment, like placing a crown on a chipped tooth or matching a denture’s color with the surrounding teeth. Still, it’s important to remember that a general dentist’s primary concern is restoring the health and function of your teeth while also providing the basics of oral healthcare.

The rise of aesthetics: How cosmetic dentistry improves your smile and more.

While general dentists are more concerned with a tooth’s condition and function, cosmetic dentists are all about aesthetics, enhancing your smile while also ensuring its longevity. This branch of dentistry prioritizes the enhancement of your teeth, gums, and overall bite. Some of the aspects of cosmetic dentistry overlap with general dentistry, but if it all boils down to it, cosmetic treatment is the focus of the former. By doing so, it gives the patient a confidence boost, making them more appealing and approachable, thus improving their social life so they can connect with others more easily.

A cosmetic dentist’s trained eye is geared toward improving your teeth’s condition, backed by their extensive dental aesthetics knowledge.

Factors like tooth color, shape, alignment, and other features about appearance are crucial to them. They find ways to make sure that the dental procedure will harmonize with your existing dental condition and enhance your facial features. These past few years, the use of veneers has boomed tremendously, thanks to social media influencers seen sporting them online. Veneers are categorized into two types: porcelain and composite. To briefly explain the key differences between the two, porcelain veneers are the gold standard, with the end results looking almost like your natural teeth, and are durable, lasting for approximately 10 to 15 years with the right care. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, go for the composite veneers. They have the same features, albeit not as polished or durable as porcelain veneers. But hey, at least they’re cheaper and can be fitted on the same day, so there’s no need for temporary veneers.

Now, let’s talk about other orthodontics like clear aligners, which are needed for—what else? Alignment corrections. If left unchecked, it cannot only result in a disfigured facial structure; but it could also lead to an array of potential health problems, which could cause you both pain and extra expenses in the future if left unchecked.

Is there an overlap between the two?

Now that you understand how general dentistry differs from cosmetic dentistry, it’s crucial to keep in mind that there are certain overlaps between the two. At the same time, it’s equally important to understand the fine line between them. If you’re confused about where you want to get your teeth checked, think of what you want to achieve first: do you want to relieve the pain so your teeth can perform their normal functions? Or do you want to improve how it looks, thus improving your overall appearance? Choosing which dentist to attend always boils down to an individual’s needs, with general dentists focused on health and function, while cosmetic dentists are all about aesthetic enhancements.