Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. So naturally, you want it to be as perfect as possible. However, before you go ahead and make a consultation at your dentist, make sure you know the difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry.
To put it plainly, restorative dentistry focuses on repairing damaged or missing teeth to support oral health and long-term dental health. Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, is more about appearance and improves the alignment, color, shape, and size of the client’s teeth. In practice, dental care can include restorative procedures that rebuild function as well as cosmetic treatments that enhance how a smile looks.
Most patients need a personalized treatment plan based on their dental issues and goals.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Now that you know the basics of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty.
Cosmetic dental services focus more on crowns, whitening, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures. These common cosmetic procedures are often chosen for appearance-focused concerns, including cosmetic enhancements and broader cosmetic dental treatments, even when there are no major functional problems.
Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over the front of teeth. Porcelain veneers still look natural and are often used for discolored teeth or misshapen teeth. They are generally considered purely cosmetic.
Getting your teeth whitened is also another version of cosmetic dentistry. Professional teeth whitening performed by a cosmetic dentist is ideal for getting the bright smile you have always dreamed of without having to spend money on whitening procedures that won’t work. Other popular cosmetic dental procedures can include dental bonding and gum contouring. Gum contouring reshapes excess gum tissue to improve smile balance.
Your teeth can change color over the years as a result of cigarette smoke, coffee, medications, and more. However, this isn’t always a problem you can fix with just regular toothpaste. Over time, you will have to rely on the services of a professional teeth.
Restorative Dentistry and Dental Implants
This type of dentistry isn’t as fun as cosmetic dentistry. Restorative dental treatments are used when problems such as tooth decay, dental pain, or tooth pain affect function and comfort, and may involve a range of oral and facial surgery procedures depending on your needs. This could involve getting a dental crown or dental fillings, and these restorative treatments help repair teeth affected by decay or damage. Restorative dental procedures may also include root canal therapy or root canals when infection threatens the tooth. It’s also not necessarily something you have a choice in.
If you do end up having to get one, be sure to avoid having to get another by not eating hard or sticky foods, brushing often and flossing as often as you can, and by following proper postoperative hygiene instructions if you receive an implant-supported restoration. Prompt care for broken teeth or damaged teeth also helps protect surrounding teeth and long-term oral health.
Restorative dentistry also involves replacing an entire tooth on its own. If you have missing teeth from an accident or some other reason, including one or more teeth, restorative dentistry is the type of service you’ll need, and dental implants are a common replacement option. Dental bridges can also replace missing teeth by using support from nearby teeth or implants, while dental implants provide long-term benefits by functioning much like natural teeth. Some cases involve multiple missing teeth and may require multiple treatments or even oral surgery as part of comprehensive restorative procedures, such as 3 on 6 dental implants for full-arch restoration.
In Conclusion
There are some important things to take away from restorative and cosmetic dentistry. For one, restorative dentistry isn’t optional and is something you need in order for your mouth to be as healthy as possible. Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, is an option and something people get in order to make their smile look better than it already is.
If you have any questions about getting either of these procedures done, be sure to reach out to your local dentist’s office for more information. At the end of the day, the health of your teeth is one you shouldn’t compromise.