The Difference Between a Cosmetic Dentist and a General Dentist

When scheduling a dental appointment, two commonly sought-after professionals are a cosmetic dentist and a general dentist. While both dentists play a vital role in caring for your oral health, they offer some distinct differences. Choosing between the two boils down to the type of service you require during your appointment.

Specializations

The key difference between a cosmetic dentist and a general dentist lies in their focus and training. A cosmetic dentist specializes in enhancing a patient's smile. Their primary focus is the visual appeal of a patient's teeth and gums, utilizing various procedures to improve them. While trained to perform the same treatment as a general dentist, cosmetic dentists tend to further their education to perform more intricate procedures.

A general dentist, on the other hand, focuses on providing comprehensive dental care that includes routine checkups, diagnosing and treating common dental issues (decay, gum disease, infection, etc.), and ensuring overall oral health. Their main goal is to prevent oral problems from developing or detecting them early enough before they get out of hand.

Services offered

Considering their specializations, these two dental professionals will offer different services. Patients will schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist on an as-needed basis. Often, a patient's general dentist may recommend them if the goal a patient wants to achieve is purely for aesthetic purposes. Common cosmetic dental services include:

• Gum contouring
• Professional teeth whitening
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental Bonding
• Clear aligners
• Same-day crowns

A general dentist, however, is to be seen every six months to ensure one's oral health is in good standing. They also provide guidance on proper oral hygiene practices, nutritional education, and products that will be most effective as a patient's body changes. General dentists also call patients when they experience tooth pain and discomfort. Common general dentist services include:

• Fillings
• Root canals
• Dental crowns
• Dental cleanings
• Root planing and scaling
• Simple tooth extractions

Where they overlap

While cosmetic dentists and general dentists have distinct focuses, their roles can intersect and involve collaboration between the two professionals. This is likely the case when a patient seeks the care of a cosmetic dentist for gum contouring but has an underlying condition, such as an infection or gum disease. In that case, the cosmetic dentist will advise the patient to seek the care of their general dentist to treat the underlying condition before returning for the cosmetic procedure. Likewise, if a patient needs to restore broken teeth, the general dentist will provide treatment for the injury before recommending a cosmetic dentist to restore the appearance of the teeth.

Furthermore, some dentists can extend their training to include cosmetic dentistry and offer a wider range of services, making them a "one-stop" practice. However, it does depend on their preference. If a patient is unsure of what type of dentist they receive care from, they can simply call the office or search their site inquiring about the services they offer.